1.Short
title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Forests for Future Generations
Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I—Response to catastrophic events on Federal land
Sec. 101. Development of research protocols and use in
catastrophic event research projects.
Sec. 102. Catastrophic event recovery evaluations.
Sec. 103. Compliance with National Environmental Policy
Act.
Sec. 104. Availability and use of pre-approved management
practices.
Sec. 105. Availability and use of alternative
arrangements.
Sec. 106. Administrative and judicial review.
Sec. 107. Guidance regarding reforestation in response to
catastrophic events.
Sec. 108. Obligations from Trust Fund.
Sec. 109. Revision of land and resource management
plans.
Sec. 110. Effect of title.
TITLE II—Restoring landscapes and communities impacted by
catastrophic events
Sec. 201. Findings.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Community protection and recovery funds.
TITLE III—Experimental forests
Sec. 301. Findings.
Sec. 302. Availability and use of pre-approved management
practices on National Forest experimental forests.
Sec. 303. Availability and use of alternative arrangements for
projects on National Forest experimental forests.
TITLE IV—General provisions
Sec. 401. Regulations.
Sec. 402. Authorization of appropriations.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)The number and
severity of catastrophic events causing resource damage to Federal land has
significantly increased over the last 20 years, and such catastrophic events
also create serious adverse environmental, social, and economic consequences
for Federal land and adjacent non-Federal land and communities.
(2)Catastrophic
events often devastate forest or rangeland ecosystems and eliminate sources of
seed for desired tree and plant species, which—
(A)delays or even
precludes the reestablishment of appropriate forest or plant cover on millions
of acres of Federal land;
(B)increases the
susceptibility of the damaged land to wildfire and noxious or harmful species
and reduces the economic value of the damaged land's resources;
(C)increases the
susceptibility of adjacent undamaged land to insect infestations, disease, and
noxious weeds;
(D)pollutes
municipal water supplies and damages water delivery infrastructure;
(E)exacerbates
sediment production that adversely impacts native fish habitat and soil
productivity;
(F)results in unsafe
campgrounds, trails, roads, and other infrastructure; and
(G)adversely impacts
the sustainability of ecosystems and the well-being of adjacent
communities.
(3)Program
authorities and funding mechanisms currently available to the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to respond to catastrophic events
on forested Federal land do not provide for consistent and timely response
activities.
(4)Alternative
arrangements approved by the Council on Environmental Quality have been used on
an inconsistent basis to respond to catastrophic events on forested Federal
land, but, when used in the past, such alternative arrangements have encouraged
expedited and successful recovery outcomes.
(5)A prompt and
standardized management response to a catastrophic event, which is also
adaptive to the unique characteristics of each catastrophic event, is
needed—
(A)to effectively
recover the area damaged by the catastrophic event;
(B)to minimize the
impact on the resources of the area and adjacent communities adversely affected
by the catastrophic event; and
(C)to recover
damaged, but still merchantable, material before it losses economic
value.
(6)Reforestation
treatments on forested Federal land after a catastrophic event helps to restore
appropriate forest cover, which provides multiple renewable resource benefits,
including—
(A)protecting soil
and water resources;
(B)providing habitat
for wildlife and fish;
(C)contributing to
aesthetics and enhancing the recreational experience for visitors;
(D)providing a
future source of timber for domestic use;
(E)ensuring the
health and resiliency of affected ecosystems for present and future
generations; and
(F)sequestering
carbon.
(7)According to the
Comptroller General, the reforestation backlog for Federal land has increased
since 2000 as a result of natural disturbances, such as wildland fires, insect
infestations, and diseases.
(8)Additional
scientific and monitoring information is needed regarding the effectiveness of
recovery treatments to improve subsequent recovery proposals in response to
future catastrophic events.
(9)State, tribal,
and local governments, local communities, and other entities play a critical
role in restoring landscapes damaged by a catastrophic event and in reducing
the risks associated with the catastrophic event.
(10)Greater
resources and adaptive arrangements must be made available to land managers to
facilitate the prompt implementation of recovery treatments, including
reforestation, following catastrophic events.
3.In this Act:
(1)The term alternative arrangements means
the authority granted to the Council on Environmental Quality under section
1506.11 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, to grant alternative
arrangements for compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), including
the authority to—
(A)reduce processing
times for an environmental impact statement; or
(B)if warranted by
the emergency, condense the preparation and processing of an environmental
impact statement.
(2)Burned area
emergency responseThe term burned area emergency
response means the process used by the Secretary concerned to plan and
implement emergency stabilization actions on Federal land in response to a
catastrophic event in order to minimize threats to life or property or to
stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural
resources resulting from the effects of the catastrophic event.
(3)The term catastrophic event means any natural
disaster or any fire, flood, or explosion, regardless of cause, that the
Secretary determines has caused or will cause damage of significant severity
and magnitude to Federal land, or for purposes of title II, non-Federal
land.
(4)Catastrophic
event recoveryThe term catastrophic event recovery,
with respect to an area of Federal land damaged by a catastrophic event,
means—
(A)if the
catastrophic event involved fire, the rehabilitation and restoration activities
(other than any emergency stabilization treatments undertaken as part of the
burned area emergency response) that are undertaken on the damaged Federal
land, including any infrastructure or facilities thereon, in response to the
catastrophic event;
(B)if the
catastrophic event did not involve fire, the emergency stabilization and
rehabilitation and restoration activities that are undertaken on the damaged
Federal land, including infrastructure or facilities thereon, in response to
the catastrophic event; or
(C)the reforestation
or revegetation of the damaged Federal land in response to the catastrophic
event using, to the extent practicable and preferable, native or beneficial
plants to avoid creation of plantation forests and the recovery of trees on the
damaged Federal land through the use of timber harvesting in a manner
consistent with the applicable land and resource management plan.
(5)Catastrophic
event recovery evaluationThe term catastrophic event
recovery evaluation, with respect to an area of Federal land damaged by
a catastrophic event, means an evaluation of the damaged Federal land that is
conducted in accordance with section 102 for the purpose of developing the
catastrophic event recovery proposal for the area.
(6)Catastrophic
event recovery proposalThe term catastrophic event
recovery proposal means the list and brief description of catastrophic
event recovery projects, catastrophic event research projects, and pre-approved
management practices that are—
(A)prepared or
identified as part of the catastrophic event recovery evaluation of an area of
Federal land damaged by a catastrophic event; and
(B)proposed to be
undertaken to facilitate the catastrophic event recovery of the area or
evaluate the effects and effectiveness of such recovery efforts.
(7)Catastrophic
event recovery projectThe term catastrophic event recovery
project means an individual activity or a series of activities
identified in a catastrophic event recovery proposal for an area of Federal
land damaged by a catastrophic event and proposed to be undertaken in response
to the catastrophic event to promote catastrophic event recovery.
(8)Catastrophic
event research projectThe term catastrophic event research
project means a scientifically designed study of the effects and
effectiveness of—
(A)any catastrophic
event recovery projects undertaken in an area of land damaged by a catastrophic
event; and
(B)any emergency
stabilization treatments undertaken as part of a burned area emergency response
in the area of land damaged by a catastrophic event.
(9)Community
wildfire protection planThe term community wildfire
protection plan has the meaning given that term in section 101(3) of the
Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511(3)).
(10)The term Federal land means land in the
National Forest System and land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The
term does not include any land contained in a component of the National
Wilderness Preservation System or designated as a national monument.
(11)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. 450b).
(12)Land and
resource management planThe term land and resource
management plan means—
(A)a land and
resource management plan developed for a unit of the National Forest System
under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604); or
(B)a land use plan
developed for an area of the public land under section 202 of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712).
(13)Land-grant
colleges and universitiesThe term land-grant colleges and
universities has the meaning given that term in section 1404(11) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3103(11)).
(14)The term landscape assessment means an
assessment describing catastrophic event conditions and recovery needs and
opportunities on non-Federal land affected by a catastrophic event and
including a list of proposed special recovery projects to address those needs
and opportunities.
(15)The term National Forest System has
the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(16)The term natural disaster
includes a
hurricane, tornado, windstorm, snow or ice storm, rain storm, high water,
wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide,
mudslide, drought, or insect or disease outbreak.
(17)Pre-approved
management practiceThe term pre-approved management
practice means a management practice identified by the Secretary
concerned under section 104(a) that may be immediately implemented as part of a
catastrophic event recovery project or catastrophic event research project to
facilitate the catastrophic event recovery of an area of Federal land damaged
by a catastrophic event.
(18)The term Secretary concerned means—
(A)the Secretary of
Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System land; and
(B)the Secretary of
the Interior, with respect to land managed by the Bureau of Land Management,
including land held for the benefit of an Indian tribe.
(19)The term special recovery project
means an individual activity or a series of activities proposed to be
undertaken to rehabilitate, repair, and restore non-Federal land damaged by a
catastrophic event, community infrastructure and facilities on the land, and
economic, social, and cultural conditions affected by the catastrophic
event.
<enum>I</enum><header>RESPONSE TO
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS ON FEDERAL LAND</header>
<section id="ID4b8e27a4a21040fcbec021925fc1b2e2"><enum>101.</enum><header>Development of
research protocols and use in catastrophic event research projects</header>
<subsection id="IDcf9f85ddce7f44bfb9ea048849e18558"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development of
protocols; purpose</header><text>For the purpose of collecting and analyzing
scientific information about the effectiveness and ecological impacts of
catastrophic event recovery projects and emergency stabilization treatments
undertaken as part of a burned area emergency response to increase the
long-term benefits of management activities and to decrease short-term impacts,
the Secretary concerned shall develop research protocols consisting of a
research approach that is specifically designed to improve knowledge,
understanding, and predictive capabilities, including an appropriate and
scientifically sound experimental design or set of sampling procedures, and
accompanying methods of data analysis and interpretation.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7c6545f6867d4c28b25cc91118c7af9c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Peer review
required</header><text>The research protocols developed under subsection (a),
and any subsequent modification thereof, shall be subject to independent peer
review by scientific and land management experts.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID5fcf6c07fe794c69ac37fef383c9a66b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Time for
completion; modification</header><text>The research protocols required by this
section shall be submitted to Congress not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act. The Secretary concerned may modify the research
protocols, as the Secretary determines necessary, after their submission to
Congress. The Secretary concerned shall notify Congress regarding any such
modification.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDaf821f48baa949839715764fb4b1717f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Catastrophic
event research projects</header><text>In accordance with the research protocols
developed under this section, the Secretary concerned may conduct one or more
catastrophic event research projects in an area of land damaged by a
catastrophic event. The Secretary may develop a proposed catastrophic event
research project as part of a catastrophic event recovery proposal or develop a
catastrophic event research project independently of the catastrophic event
recovery proposal during the catastrophic event recovery in response to
changing conditions in the area damaged by the catastrophic event.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID25bdff2d3981435f9cdd7e8d96f81874"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Public
access</header>
<paragraph id="ID87fd826c486c4e3aaeb0defda781d0b7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Protocols</header><text>The
Secretary concerned shall make the research protocols developed under
subsection (a), including any modification thereof, publicly available, in a
form determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID945dd5d03ac641aca315fac5dc9c1d69"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Research
results</header><text>After completion of the independent peer review required
by subsection (b), the Secretary concerned shall make the results of
catastrophic event research projects publicly available, in a form determined
to be appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID0bb3284d80244035aa2834657665857b"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Forest health
partnerships</header>
<paragraph id="id8825450E6EA743A6A53C621BB6F5D54A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In developing and using the research protocols required
by this section, the Secretary concerned shall enter into at least 1
cooperative agreement with 1 or land-grant colleges or universities in each
Forest Service Region to form forest health partnerships, including regional
institutes, to utilize the education, research, and outreach capacity of
land-grant colleges and universities to address the recovery of forested land
after a catastrophic event.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF7DEFA6D790745729E810603A8B00108"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Alignment with
cooperative ecosystem studies units</header><text>A forest health partnership
may be aligned with the current network of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies
Units.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDb5cac16001394e38b9d537b1f9f9b38a"><enum>102.</enum><header>Catastrophic
event recovery evaluations</header>
<subsection id="ID307b0fea756f41afb8f97541507b1b76"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Commencement</header>
<paragraph id="ID1545519109d74614b74bb705a35d1fd2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Evaluation
required</header><text>In response to a catastrophic event affecting 1,000 or
more acres of Federal land, the Secretary concerned shall conduct a
catastrophic event recovery evaluation of the damaged Federal land.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID98f33fa25e204c3ab36d3e37421de0f7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Evaluation
authorized</header><text>If a catastrophic event affects more than 250 acres of
Federal land, but less than 1,000 acres, the Secretary concerned is authorized,
but not required, to conduct a catastrophic event recovery evaluation of the
damaged Federal land.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDd964cee868ec430992b11001fb680d88"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Completion</header><text>When
a catastrophic event recovery evaluation is required to be conducted under
subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall commence and complete the
catastrophic event recovery evaluation not later than 30 days after the
conclusion of the catastrophic event in order to facilitate prompt—</text>
<paragraph id="IDf6f66ec838fe4fd6a2768ec35cb5b157"><enum>(1)</enum><text>decision-making
with regard to the catastrophic event recovery of the Federal land damaged by
the catastrophic event; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDa1696ca1b8154bd3b8dd69ce2968ddb7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>implementation of
catastrophic event recovery projects on the damaged Federal land.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID08a48a31e4514324a83c64158767ec87"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Elements of
Catastrophic Event Evaluation</header><text>In conducting the catastrophic
event recovery evaluation for an area of Federal land damaged by a catastrophic
event, the Secretary concerned shall prepare the following:</text>
<paragraph id="ID406a37f86e8245b18ab77b9d86deceef"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A description of
catastrophic event conditions on the damaged Federal land, recovery needs and
opportunities, and the areas where management intervention would be
helpful—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDdb1f92bb8d4545a2806c120bc68f71ce"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to repair,
maintain, or improve resource values;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9a99d3959b2b4ae4b8458e9eef290dc4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to maintain
infrastructure;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID26244b8697914526a808e3143d40f10c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to foster
reforestation or other recovery of the damaged Federal land; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDd87cbdb3fd9a43f6b47ff42e83a795f6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to achieve the
goals and objectives of the applicable land and resource management
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID79d64e817fdf43eca2cec60ac7812e67"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A preliminary
determination of any catastrophic event research projects that best fit the
circumstances of the particular catastrophic event environment or would enhance
scientific understanding relevant to the damaged area.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7cfc7f86e0434e92bab7cedeafb26de1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>A catastrophic
event recovery proposal containing possible catastrophic event recovery
projects and catastrophic event research projects for the damaged area and
describing the anticipated size and scope of these projects.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDfb681f82e4ce4724a507a25b69054fb9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>One or more maps
detailing the area of damaged Federal land and the location of catastrophic
event recovery proposals.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDee92e7a6309e4beba42df27f2f7e514c"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A preliminary
estimate of the funding that would be needed to complete the catastrophic event
recovery projects and catastrophic event research projects contained in the
catastrophic event recovery proposal.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDdc4e6e6cb863454bb7bec669dcd44052"><enum>(6)</enum><text>A preliminary
estimate of the receipts to be derived from the catastrophic event recovery
projects and catastrophic event research projects contained in the catastrophic
event recovery proposal.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDe9bfd3e1614f4fd9b064519ebff24ece"><enum>(7)</enum><text>A preliminary
schedule showing the timing of possible catastrophic event recovery projects
and catastrophic event research projects by fiscal year, assuming funding is
available to undertake the projects.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDb9d27f928e5c462cb520ac488d29a96d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of
Pre-Approved Management Practices or Alternative Arrangements</header>
<paragraph id="IDe9206b746dc143de9eecdcfb3d3263d4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determination</header><text>In
addition to complying with the requirements specified in subsection (c) for
each catastrophic event recovery evaluation, the Secretary concerned shall make
a determination of—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID81dec6a9de6c41699f501e9ae58f7871"><enum>(A)</enum><text>whether or not
any pre-approved management practices can be immediately implemented under
section 104 to facilitate the catastrophic event recovery of the area covered
by the catastrophic event recovery evaluation; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID8f0ebaef945e4610b3db20fe6e2dee82"><enum>(B)</enum><text>whether or not
any catastrophic event recovery project or catastrophic event research project,
or portion of such a project, contained in the catastrophic event recovery
proposal should be developed and carried out using the alternative arrangements
authorized by section 105.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDa537bf6d85ac45ccbf7aa4a68d358dab"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Factors</header><text>In
making any determination under paragraph (1)(B) to develop and carry out a
catastrophic event recovery project or catastrophic event research project, or
portion of such a project, using alternative arrangements under section 105,
the Secretary concerned shall consider at a minimum the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="IDc47bb9f441e8416f8c6735d7e72ae1de"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The necessity of
promptly responding to the catastrophic event on the damaged Federal
land.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDc65292a0af7b4c79b53996c0fd4abe30"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The recovery
needs and opportunities identified under subsection (c)(1) with respect to the
damaged Federal land.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDd82fddcbf93a4034b51f138077913ff0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The lack of
pre-approved management practices applicable to the damaged Federal
land.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID91d13f61955a46a0afb862203fb2461f"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The threat to
public health and safety.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDfc20ce6e464d42beaf3bd6d0e6900b60"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The likelihood of
substantial loss of adjacent private and public property or other substantial
economic losses.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDb56ed7c78a044a81b63fa44f504b8428"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notification
and consultation</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall make the
determinations under paragraph (1) after notification of and in consultation
with the Council on Environmental Quality, but the determination remains in the
sole discretion of the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID29522edcc36746f899a0c47d739aa72b"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Interdisciplinary
Approach</header><text>To conduct the catastrophic event recovery evaluation of
an area of Federal land damaged by a catastrophic event, the Secretary
concerned shall use a systematic, interdisciplinary approach that insures the
integrated use of appropriate natural and social sciences.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDa78f450de06f4fbbb2e2e155a4b594c0"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination
With Other Activities</header><text>The Secretary concerned may combine the
preparation of a catastrophic event recovery evaluation of Federal land with
the preparation of a landscape assessment for non-Federal land in the vicinity
of the damaged Federal land prepared under section 203(c)(1)(A).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID90ecefcb5bc14b589e8fa3c7a97044ff"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Public
collaboration</header><text>To encourage meaningful participation during the
preparation of catastrophic event recovery projects, the Secretary concerned
shall facilitate collaboration among State and local governments, Indian
tribes, land-grant colleges and universities, and interested persons during the
preparation of catastrophic event recovery evaluations and catastrophic event
recovery proposals.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID59e934532b4c42c0b9009c5a1bfd80e5"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Public
notice</header>
<paragraph id="ID92a286bad28c41b1afacbe7cd9ef3216"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notice of
evaluation</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall provide public notice of
each catastrophic event recovery evaluation, including the catastrophic event
recovery proposal prepared as part of the evaluation. The notice shall be
provided in a form determined to be appropriate by the Secretary concerned,
such as publication in the Federal Register.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDe762e0973979476f85d4b3b92d0ab9c5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notice of
public meetings</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall provide notice of
public meetings conducted in connection with a catastrophic event recovery
evaluation and the availability of preliminary analyses or documents prepared
as part of the evaluation. The notice shall be provided at such times and in
such a manner as the Secretary concerned considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID67e607873eeb413d8cc2d637ba10fa13"><enum>103.</enum><header>Compliance
with National Environmental Policy Act</header>
<subsection id="ID550daa31d7c94aada80ca30abf4cd445"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Compliance
Required</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary
concerned shall comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4331 et seq.), its implementing regulations, and other applicable laws
in designing and conducting catastrophic event recovery projects and
catastrophic event research projects.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID2d37b08a82d14846b6863a32f9c9d28e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Satisfaction of
NEPA Requirements</header><text>The list of pre-approved management practices
prepared under subsection (a) of section 104, the use of pre-approved
management practices in the manner provided in such section as part of the
catastrophic event recovery of an area of Federal land damaged by a
catastrophic event, and the use of alternative arrangements in the manner
provided in section 105 to design or conduct a catastrophic event recovery
project or catastrophic event research project, or portion of such a project,
are deemed to satisfy the requirements of section 102 of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332) and its implementing
regulations.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID66b61980ccd7450cad28bb4f5d1eaac9"><enum>104.</enum><header>Availability
and use of pre-approved management practices</header>
<subsection id="ID80f7e92bf8ee42c7857b01a249225045"><enum>(a)</enum><header>List of
Available Pre-Approved Management Practices</header>
<paragraph id="ID434cc942a6be45f4944e068c73a1b42b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Preparation of
list</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall prepare a list of management
practices that may be immediately implemented as part of a catastrophic event
recovery project or catastrophic event research project to facilitate the
catastrophic event recovery of an area of Federal land damaged by a
catastrophic event.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDc6b2eb3e7c3048679e80f714e0a21b2e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule
making</header><text>The list of pre-approved management practices shall be
prepared using notice and comment rule making under section 553 of title 5,
United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDfa47107e5e12431498940430ae52ae0d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Peer review
required</header><text>Before a management practice may be included on the list
of pre-approved management practices, the management practice shall be subject
to independent peer review by scientific and land management experts. The
results of the review shall be available to the public during the comment
period.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDa72234399c9f46e8960e08c66155efc0"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Revision or
amendment</header><text>The Secretary concerned may amend or revise the list of
pre-approved management practices as necessary whenever new scientific and
managerial information becomes available. Paragraphs (2) and (3) shall apply to
the amendment or revision process.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID4af580167a3e4e61948cf8e00a1351cc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of
Pre-Approved Management Practices</header><text>Until the end of the 2-year
period beginning on the date on which the catastrophic event recovery
evaluation is completed for an area of Federal land damaged by a catastrophic
event, the Secretary concerned may implement and carry out pre-approved
management practices to facilitate the catastrophic event recovery of the
area.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID97f67c3e8c9a4bc7a56fdff4d21ef8e9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effect of
Termination of Period</header><text>After the expiration of the applicable time
period under subsection (b), a pre-approved management practice may not be
initiated under the authority of such subsection for an area of Federal land
damaged by a catastrophic event. Any pre-approved management practice initiated
before the date of the expiration of the applicable time period may not be
continued after that date.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDfd56f0934b86461fbd4618b9e3140ce9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use for Certain
Activities Prohibited</header>
<paragraph id="IDe0138d3f206a4805a7001ddcfd25e09f"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Road
construction</header><text>A pre-approved management practice may not authorize
any permanent road building. Any temporary road constructed as part of a
pre-approved management practice shall be obliterated upon conclusion of the
practice and the road area restored to the extent practicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID81033a37c5d042069d5d79d2504a1687"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Timber
harvesting</header><text>Timber harvesting carried out as part of a
pre-approved management practice shall be limited to trees—</text>
<subparagraph id="IDc77a9b98aa9f4a9e839946ffd4c34af8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>that are already
down, dead, broken, or severely root sprung;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDa06249aa5e574386a4cadbfe3dc323ec"><enum>(B)</enum><text>regarding which
mortality is highly probable within five years after the end of the
catastrophic event;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID03d5e3efc6754f2c8401384ae318d07c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>that are required
to be removed for worker or public safety; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDa0845b2114df4a989f54209eb37aee28"><enum>(D)</enum><text>that are not
specified for snag retention by the applicable land and resource management
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID137ddfa97c754192b4d2c90e506621ed"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Required
Consultation</header>
<paragraph id="ID3b6578280c6d4b8ea98fd1761a973ef7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>ESA
consultation</header>
<subparagraph id="id025AE497B7284B4F9172DD06B0F70EC8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In the case of the proposed use of a pre-approved
management practice under subsection (b), the Secretary concerned may use the
emergency procedures described in section 402.05 of title 50, Code of Federal
Regulations, to comply with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. 1536).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD3BBCB71E41A4700A88C55E0C744F603"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Incidental
takings</header>
<clause id="id89D4EDDB1E614F79802F443985DCFEFD"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>At the conclusion of the consultation, the statement
required by section 7(b)(4) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1536(b)(4)) shall be issued for any incidental taking that may occur while
using the pre-approved management practice.</text>
</clause><clause id="id3FE539CBFBF34B99BFFA485DF9CDA761"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Application</header><text>The
statement issued under clause (i) shall—</text>
<subclause id="idE8130FAAD2494E8CB342336E9BC68054"><enum>(I)</enum><text>be effective
beginning on the date the Secretary concerned initiates the practice;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id02EA4C66DB8546E69FCF688DFA9445F7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>apply to all
persons assisting or cooperating with the Secretary in using the
practice.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4E6893638EF24F8DA99833DE06B8680C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Deadline for
completion</header><text>If the consultation required under this subsection is
not completed by the date on which the decision document is issued under
subsection (f), the applicable biological assessment from the land management
agency shall be considered to be sufficient for the purposes of section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDd09888f7fbc748f4b083ce8e4ca532d7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other required
consultation</header><text>Any consultation required under other laws, such as
the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) or the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), may proceed
simultaneously with the implementation of a pre-approved management practice.
Results of consultation shall be immediately incorporated into the practice, to
the extent feasible, practical, and consistent with the response, recovery, and
rehabilitation objectives of the project.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDb8f063e71157418d9933bc06e6318e81"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Issuance of
Decision Document</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which
the Secretary concerned makes the determination under section 102(d) to use a
pre-approved management practice to facilitate the catastrophic event recovery
of an area of Federal land damaged by a catastrophic event, the Secretary
concerned shall issue a concise decision document that contains—</text>
<paragraph id="ID23fa69e76af943fea2d97406244a7f5a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a description of
the pre-approved management practice to be implemented;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7e2a02fabc59405ca0a9c3081cd2a9ca"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the rationale for
the agency decision;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID229f6857c23d4ef48c1b2fd2aaf2c61e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an economic
analysis and justification; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID6fccc66ec48643608c5aeda6b05a24cd"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an analysis of
the environmental effects of the pre-approved management practice and how such
effects will be minimized or mitigated consistent with the applicable land and
resource management plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID945871655d6d4e3ca134ffaf3bf9324c"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Immediate
Implementation</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall implement a
pre-approved management practice immediately after the issuance of the decision
document under subsection (f), subject only to the availability of funds for
the practice.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID27e45c797a33456c9cb30451564dd4bf"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Monitoring</header><text>To
monitor the implementation of a pre-approved management practice, the Secretary
concerned may establish a third-party monitoring group, as determined to be
appropriate by the Secretary.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="IDe07bcbb24c6849f588a44bb83fd13b1c"><enum>105.</enum><header>Availability
and use of alternative arrangements</header>
<subsection id="IDcfa57c0b14794463a7045e53aa39d1b6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Limited
Consideration of Alternatives</header><text>If the Secretary concerned
determines under section 102(d) to utilize alternative arrangements to conduct
a catastrophic event recovery project or catastrophic event research project,
or portion of such a project, the Secretary concerned is not required to study,
develop, or describe more than the proposed agency action and the alternative
of no action in designing that project or the portion of the project for which
the alternative arrangements are utilized.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID7da546728e2b43b9aaf5c09c4660be58"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use for Certain
Activities Prohibited</header>
<paragraph id="ID80fb232eceb44874bb462d5f62fa6948"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Road
construction</header><text>Alternative arrangements under this section may not
be used to design or conduct a catastrophic event recovery project or
catastrophic event research project, or portion of such a project, that
provides for any permanent road building. Any temporary road constructed as
part of the project shall be obliterated upon completion of the project and the
road area restored to the extent practicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID34c1de6657a245c3b02ef6ac927b5452"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Timber
harvesting</header><text>Timber harvesting carried out as part of a
catastrophic event recovery project or catastrophic event research project, or
portion of such a project, for which alternative arrangements under this
section were used shall be limited to trees—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID50d126effeae4f71b61e44327ec86920"><enum>(A)</enum><text>that are already
down, dead, broken, or severely root sprung;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID820b2647fc81495aa8e6e0195b134394"><enum>(B)</enum><text>regarding which
mortality is highly probable;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID67a38860f5144fc7951ea3a3d0f17c36"><enum>(C)</enum><text>that are required
to be removed for worker or public safety; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDbf5d186a2f4242c1b04e7844b58819c2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>that are not
specified for snag retention by the applicable land and resource management
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID78eda56b5f334f20b0a5f63aef9d9eac"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Required
Consultation</header>
<paragraph id="id75ACC37B9CF24BD388D79C02AA1C5B90"><enum>(1)</enum><header>ESA
consultation</header>
<subparagraph id="idA6FE166C87A14CA5839B34F1465A6690"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In the case of a catastrophic event recovery project or
catastrophic event research project, or portion of such a project, for which
alternative arrangements under this section are used, the Secretary concerned
may use the emergency procedures described in section 402.05 of title 50, Code
of Federal Regulations, to comply with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3AFAD29634F44B388B94FC9BE1FE19D1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Incidental
takings</header>
<clause id="idC048AB7AAEA24FDD9B97EDD87986D030"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>At the conclusion of the consultation, the statement
required by section 7(b)(4) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1536(b)(4)) shall be issued for any incidental taking that may occur under the
project.</text>
</clause><clause id="idA14A12AC33B34E1F9765A7907A23566F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Application</header><text>The
statement issued under clause (i) shall—</text>
<subclause id="id76CBC2AF371C425DBFD81BC89556AA6B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>be effective
beginning on the date the Secretary concerned initiates action under the
project; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id8F7AE7B0B721408AA64A3D97ECC07C6F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>apply to all
persons assisting or cooperating with the Secretary under the project.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE5130ABD909D42FE9DC93F951253E5DF"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Deadline for
completion</header><text>If the consultation required under this subsection is
not completed by the date on which the decision document is issued under
subsection (d), the applicable biological assessment from the land management
agency shall be considered to be sufficient for the purposes of section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID54bb38ee2c4841e4b0875259760209ca"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other required
consultation</header><text>Any consultation required under other laws, such as
the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) or the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), may proceed
simultaneously with the design of a catastrophic event recovery project or
catastrophic event research project, or portion of such a project, for which
alternative arrangements under this section are used. Results of consultation
shall be immediately incorporated into the project, to the extent feasible,
practical, and consistent with the response, recovery, and rehabilitation
objectives of the project.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID431e0689e71f4812ac618b0d8a57cb5f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Completion of
Alternative Arrangements and Issuance of Decision Document</header><text>Not
later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary concerned makes the
determination under section 102(d) to develop and carry out a catastrophic
event recovery project or catastrophic event research project, or portion of
such a project, using alternative arrangements, the Secretary concerned
shall—</text>
<paragraph id="IDd80823e00fbb4bf8a60601807df4f9b1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>complete the
alternative arrangements for that catastrophic event recovery project or
catastrophic event research project, or portion thereof, under this section;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1b5c2001dae445769e388f31cfda10ad"><enum>(2)</enum><text>issue a concise
decision document that contains—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID70823466efcc463bad0e020e0427b67b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the rationale for
the agency decision;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5bd442c52e234e49ad6b20b8beb71658"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an economic
analysis and justification; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDc7c7bcbed08042d993faf125c1897025"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an analysis of
the environmental effects of the project and how such effects will be minimized
or mitigated consistent with the applicable land and resource management
plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID5c3c6f9bb0844cc08bd11937fd02ca82"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Immediate
Implementation</header><text>In the case of a catastrophic event recovery
project or catastrophic event research project, or portion of such a project,
for which the alternative arrangements authorized by this section are used, the
Secretary concerned shall implement the project, or portion of the project,
immediately after the issuance of the decision document under subsection (d),
subject only to the availability of funds for the project.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID59f7b5156d7e4c3ea3e73fa8f3786528"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Monitoring</header><text>To
monitor a catastrophic event recovery project or catastrophic event research
project, or portion of such a project, for which the alternative arrangements
authorized by this section were used, the Secretary concerned may establish a
third-party monitoring group, as determined to be appropriate by the
Secretary.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID5dff388d09fe48af9032801d019e228a"><enum>106.</enum><header>Administrative
and judicial review</header>
<subsection id="IDeb1abad244234ceab5eea58821d2a3f9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Administrative
Review Generally</header><text>Except as provided in subsection (b), nothing in
this title affects—</text>
<paragraph id="ID0816e1d8919847e19fcd9fda9223e924"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the notice,
comment, and appeal requirements of section 322 of the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (Public 102-381; 16
U.S.C. 1612 note) and section 215 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations;
or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDff6dabc40ed542528d473a91ce37718a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the consideration
or disposition of any legal action brought with respect to such
requirements.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID8e8c2c1490f34fb4b40544aa50a9eb83"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Predecisional
Administrative Review</header><text>The predecisional administrative review
process established by the Secretary of Agriculture by regulation under section
105 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6515), and the
Department of the Interior administrative hearings and appeals procedures
referred to in subsection (c)(1)(B) of such section, shall serve as the sole
means by which a person can seek administrative review regarding—</text>
<paragraph id="ID32ea383fb01c414db73abc8ef0070105"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the proposed use
of a pre-approved management practice under section 104; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDf7e84ec63a2f4726bb8f53ab388977db"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a catastrophic
event recovery project or catastrophic event research project, or portion of
such a project, for which the alternative arrangements under section 105 are
used.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID0fa9ab4f6b69467f8a91cb7af10c64f5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Judicial
Review</header>
<paragraph id="id6F47E70735CA48A7A9DCA1B9508693D4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 106 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6516) shall apply with respect to the implementation of a
pre-approved management practice under section 104 or a catastrophic event
recovery project or catastrophic event research project regarding which the
applicable administrative review process has been exhausted.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idAFF1397787C447F882F3F81588208350"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Attorney
fees</header><text>In any proceeding for judicial review of agency action under
this subsection, attorney fees awarded to a prevailing party may not exceed the
hourly rates established in section 3006A of title 18, United States
Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID74bace6d064641d0abd0ed3ea29fa1e8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Mediation and
Binding Arbitration</header>
<paragraph id="id2FDF357186C14066A23AA29E5DE51577"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In lieu of the administrative and judicial processes
provided for in subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary concerned is encouraged
to establish procedures for voluntary mediation and binding arbitration that
would accelerate the implementation of catastrophic event recovery
projects.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id445234DA73E94A5FB672C90A2EA71DD2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Any
procedures established under paragraph (1) shall provide that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID87d33232bd1b4b0385897adc8ffa217f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Federal
Government shall bear all costs of any mediation or binding arbitration
proceedings;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID649a8abe0462472caa5621f8f4246906"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the limitation on
attorney fees under subsection (c)(2) shall not apply to the
proceedings;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDf4a9dd88a1c541f4b620607fd3ba84b7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the applicable
local government, any persons economically impacted by the catastrophic event
recovery project, and any potential litigants shall be allowed to equally
participate in the proceedings;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID37d83dd044624b7eb7a43095b7e7fd8c"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the proceedings
shall be completed within 30 days of the date on which the proceedings were
initiated; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDab1bb4bd2601428db503b52ac8b91f59"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the mediator
shall be mutually acceptable to all parties to the proceedings.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ID02b3cb313b2641918f6e47b9e107080a"><enum>107.</enum><header>Guidance
regarding reforestation in response to catastrophic events</header>
<subsection id="ID2650d11fc9eb41f0bbab204d66187046"><enum></enum><text>Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned
shall—</text>
<paragraph id="IDcb3b898bcb1243848d52f3b56edade58"><enum>(1)</enum><text>standardize the
collection, reporting, and review procedures for data regarding more
aggressive, expedited, and comprehensive reforestation in response to
catastrophic events by clarifying agency-wide guidance and developing standard
protocols for determining when and how reforestation can be best achieved as
part of the response to catastrophic events; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID10409c3ed80044e3b70ac8b285ef994b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>clarify
agency-wide guidance regarding reforestation in response to catastrophic events
to ensure that such guidance is consistent with agency goals and budget
constraints.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idC639A9480D96460DA2C6BD6EF7779F48"><enum>108.</enum><header>Obligations
from trust fund</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 303(d)
of Public Law 96–451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a(d)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idB23F701B918A4272962E910928C15D3C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id1FC9E10A0AA04C0AB4CF80CB98B05CCE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
<quote>(d) The Secretary of Agriculture</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9307D9D9DD9E41C383F038205D7F5FDC" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id8E85FE33236F449CACC415D0D0FE33A8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Obligations
from trust fund</header>
<paragraph id="idD7FAEF8087AF4C9E8A60CDC3E5B28592"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reforestation
and timber stand improvements</header><text>The Secretary of
Agriculture</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id214C29BFA8E34B518E32E2048103B7E7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
before paragraph (2) (as designated by paragraph (2)) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0C032BBE182147139F61A4F671B5FD66" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id1089527DE01340F8AA6B1FBCAA6D0614"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this subsection:</text>
<subparagraph id="id289EA2F89A354CB5A303FDFC2A27D3FA"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Appropriate
forest cover</header><text>The term <term>appropriate forest cover</term> means
the species of trees, the degree of stocking, the rate of growth, and the
conditions of a stand designed to secure the maximum benefits of multiple use
sustained yield management.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB244E6BCCD8D435C988E5045FBE97066"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Catastrophic
event</header><text>The term <term>catastrophic event</term> means any natural
disaster or any fire, flood, or explosion, regardless of cause, that the
Secretary of Agriculture determines has caused or will cause damage of
significant severity and magnitude to National Forest System land.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id31B1257282C345E88EEC4C2CD2802269"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Natural
disaster</header><text>The term <quote>natural disaster</quote> includes a
hurricane, tornado, windstorm, snow or ice storm, rain storm, high water,
wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide,
mudslide, drought, or insect or disease
outbreak.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id95B3AF83EAB542DBBDA18E3E38CA095C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)
(as designated by paragraph (2))—</text>
<subparagraph id="id87BA933990FB48E5B2E6317B80A98E43"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))—</text>
<clause id="id6FD80FEAB7404A6286B5F9680F10C3D2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
inserting <quote>, subject to subparagraph (B),</quote> after
<quote>reforestation</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idB71A44A2A48E4BB3A554E422DBC1809E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id96F93BD0724849628E87218C4EBEC942"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating
subparagraph (B) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) as subparagraph (C);
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1CD16DD58A914676A0C5EA975A13B6B1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting
after subparagraph (A) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF35090C8F5DC433EBDF3A1B2128B7838" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="idE0CDFB15AB8F4E8DB7295EBC2F15A2AD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>reforestation
treatment to restore appropriate forest cover on National Forest System land
that is capable of growing, and available for, commercial timber harvest and
that has been affected by a catastrophic event if—</text>
<clause id="id6FD233637BBA4A38ABE16BD64020096D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the need for the
reforestation treatment is identified in the report submitted to Congress under
section 3(d)(1) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(d)(1)); and</text>
</clause><clause id="idCC8F4AFABA994040A9A9D4D92224FFBF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the
reforestation treatment occurs within 5 years of—</text>
<subclause id="id76AD1F1CD1AE4301BD1D9CE819E23EB3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>if there is no
harvest activity following the wildfire or the nonfire natural disturbance
event, the wildfire or a nonfire natural disturbance event;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idD7E81AD9637240A19656D0B461092DA0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>if a
regeneration harvest is the final cut in a stand in a disturbed area, the
regeneration harvest; or</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2F7BBDC921C541A89786797F2468AE01"><enum>(III)</enum><text>if a salvage
harvest is the final cut in a stand in a disturbed area, the salvage harvest;
and</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="ID8dee433ab6cb469bb5525f4eba690df2"><enum>109.</enum><header>Revision of
land and resource management plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">During the 3-year period beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall ensure that any
revision to a land and resource management plan address forest management and
recovery goals after a catastrophic event.</text>
</section><section id="ID157d79014db54e058751b13c539a5575"><enum>110.</enum><header>Effect of
title</header>
<subsection id="ID52b311024d3e4633b18575ba50f30860"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Use of other
authorities</header><text>Nothing in this title affects the use by the
Secretary concerned of other statutory or administrative authority, including
categorical exclusions adopted to implement the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), to conduct a catastrophic event recovery
project or catastrophic event research project, or portion of such a project,
that is not conducted using the alternative arrangements authorized by section
105.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID2f08629a937b478fb875ad785bcb7e58"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Advisory
committees</header><text>The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and
title XVIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2281 et seq.)
shall not apply to—</text>
<paragraph id="ID0fc179dad7be46a794a2dab17bf75ced"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the independent
peer review provided by scientific and land management experts under section
101(b);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID954a37540a8a43779a23ee55db7ed544"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the monitoring
process under section 104(h) or 105(f); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID22ec8f994df64c5ea5e3d317f71f0605"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the preparation
of a catastrophic event recovery evaluation or catastrophic event recovery
proposal.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Restoring
landscapes and communities impacted by catastrophic events</header>
<section id="ID8ffdcb14d23a45e0889c3a67abd62b96"><enum>201.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress finds that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID68589fde75fe46f9a23ff6a54c49ca79"><enum>(1)</enum><text>there is a
relationship between poverty and Federal land ownership, with households below
the poverty level being located in close proximity to Federal land;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID1fab0b8ee58247a189eded6462efefce"><enum>(2)</enum><text>households below
the poverty level are more likely to be located in areas with low or no
wildfire or other catastrophic event response capabilities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID293407c267c14613af495fedd60849e4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>catastrophic
events disproportionately affect low-income communities in the short term and
long term by negatively impacting economic activities such as recreation,
timber and nontraditional forest product utilization, fisheries, and
tourism.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="idB576EA94FC5D4DDB969C1F77F76BA91B"><enum>202.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="idAA973368A6DF4D72BA861C6979D4A593"><enum></enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="IDb74c837f78f44aa48338ae6618eeffa1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible
entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means a State
Forester or equivalent State official, an Indian tribe, local government,
community-based organization, or other person.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID20db6ca402fa43dea89846e68ebf12f4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Excess
receipts</header><text>The term <term>excess receipts</term> means any National
Forest Fund receipts derived from the sale of timber under section 105(b)(2),
that are identified by the Secretary for the fiscal year as amounts in excess
of the amounts retained onsite for activities included in an applicable
catastrophic event recovery project.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb08a0b7ff9854b99b403214ccf2cf2e4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Fund</header><text>The
term <term>fund</term> means a community protection and recovery fund
established under section 203(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID09483f14f6d84c5f9301c952f66c1dee"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="IDd6882e47484c4b8c8d48e6ae2c271c71"><enum>203.</enum><header>Community
protection and recovery funds</header>
<subsection id="ID8d1d477a8a1044e59af5f91ca4a8973b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Secretary shall establish within the Treasury a community protection and
recovery fund for each catastrophic event recovery project, consisting of such
amounts as are transferred to the fund under subsection (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID75847D4BD6B24B8E83CBB81F88EF90BB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Transfers to
Fund</header><text>There are appropriated to each fund amounts equivalent to 5
percent of excess receipts.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idCF757E3CF9CA431C9BE5E810D321A8E3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use</header>
<paragraph id="idF02E416086B6409F8A38D5CCE0B2A655"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), amounts in the fund
shall be available, without further appropriation, to the Secretary, in
cooperation with any eligible entities, for—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID9847f6dda2bb404791d77de214d6c8ca"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the preparation
of a landscape assessment for non-Federal land affected by a catastrophic
event;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID9043dec540aa4be696f50e3294348a77"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assistance in the
preparation of a community wildfire protection plan or related plan; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDab3111e2dafe4eb5bffe366dc1af6415"><enum>(C)</enum><text>implementation of
special recovery projects identified in the landscape assessment or community
wildfire protection plan, community assessment, or community action plan,
including—</text>
<clause id="IDdb5be465fa0f41f589fb73154731c93e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>revegetation,
tree planting, and other management practices that the Secretary determines to
be appropriate;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDd03b1a1473394aedb51b30ebf4568ecc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>developing
products from and markets for fire timber harvest and remaining forest
resources;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID74717f9c06c64b91b830dd3de024f151"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>training for
the local workforce;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID41670566c7ba4996910aea4e4ca5d398"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>repair of public
facilities, such as water systems, roads, bridges and trails, affected by a
catastrophic event; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1875d0b4326d4056854b55666cad6161"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any
other activities that the Secretary determines to be necessary to undertake the
special recovery project.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID56dbd25bce674e4db22f938abb3d8f8d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Preference</header><text>In
making expenditures from a fund, the Secretary shall give priority to
low-income communities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id3F59244743854D55BADB5C3B666E992E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Amounts
in a fund shall only be available for expenditure for a specific catastrophic
event during the 3-year period beginning on the date on which the catastrophic
event occurs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDae296ae5062c48d3b6b355420159f3b9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reprogramming</header><text>Amounts
deposited in a fund or eligible for deposit in a fund shall not be subject to
transfer or reprogramming for wildland fire management or any other emergency
purposes.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Experimental
forests</header>
<section id="ID8eda5342f00e4482892775d9f93a8b8b"><enum>301.</enum><header>Findings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Congress finds the following:</text>
<paragraph id="ID9c39ec7e5da74fe88d0304a6a8d7c808"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The experimental
forests established pursuant to section 4 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1643) or the organic administrative
authorities of the Secretary of Agriculture (16 U.S.C. 551) serve as a natural
laboratory for the Forest Service to evaluate management practices generally
and specific responses to catastrophic events that can be eventually used
throughout the National Forest System.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDe724bf8c37c64d4ea2f1dc65eb898f95"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To build upon the
knowledge base to be developed using catastrophic events research projects
conducted under title I, the Secretary of Agriculture should be authorized to
use the same authorities provided under sections 104 and 105 to design and
carry out projects in the experimental forests.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID97297b76890e4938be77106718655f23"><enum>302.</enum><header>Availability
and use of pre-approved management practices on National Forest experimental
forests</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Management practices
included on the list of pre-approved management practices prepared under
subsection (a) of section 104 may be implemented, in the manner provided by
such section, in an experimental forest established pursuant to section 4 of
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
1643) or the organic administrative authorities of the Secretary of Agriculture
(16 U.S.C. 551).</text>
</section><section id="ID5a8af257e3f6447381a7f8a7e766bb3b"><enum>303.</enum><header>Availability
and use of alternative arrangements for projects on National Forest
experimental forests</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
105 shall apply with respect to any individual activity or a series of
activities proposed to be undertaken in an experimental forest established
pursuant to section 4 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1643) or the organic administrative authorities of the
Secretary of Agriculture (16 U.S.C. 551).</text>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>General
provisions</header>
<section id="IDa019f0c12aeb462d94f5ed37775e6088"><enum>401.</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary concerned is not required to
promulgate regulations to implement this Act.</text>
</section><section id="id2986862807604EF385E49AFEBC180B6D"><enum>402.</enum><header>Authorization
of Appropriations</header>
<subsection id="idB6999F61DF78401E9CB2706F9D283231"><enum></enum><text>There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section>