1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Forest Ecosystem Recovery and
Protection Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Title I—Pine Beetle Prevention and Mitigation and Forest
Restoration
Sec. 101. Designation of demonstration project
forests.
Sec. 102. Pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest
restoration demonstration projects.
Sec. 103. Grants to support forest products industry
participation in pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration
demonstration projects.
Sec. 104. Treatment of biomass removed from demonstration
project site.
Sec. 105. Conforming changes to stewardship contracting
authority.
Sec. 106. Environmental analysis and decision
document.
Sec. 107. Predecisional administrative review process and
judicial review.
Sec. 108. Availability of Reforestation Trust Fund.
Sec. 109. Acceptance of donations.
Title II—Good Neighbor and Emergency Ecosystem, Watershed, and
Human Health and Safety Authorities
Sec. 201. Designation of insect or disease emergency
areas.
Sec. 202. Treatment of biomass removed from insect or disease
emergency areas.
Sec. 203. Use of State foresters to provide forest, rangeland,
and watershed restoration and protection services on Federal land.
Sec. 204. Removal of dead and dying trees from rights-of-way on
Federal land.
2.In this Act:
(1)The term at-risk community has the meaning
given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
(16 U.S.C. 6511).
(2)The term covered State
means the States of
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
(3)Demonstration
project forestThe term
demonstration project forest
means a unit of the National Forest
System or portion of a unit of the National Forest System in a covered State
designated by the Secretary under section 101 as the site for demonstration
projects under section 102. The term excludes National Forest System land
described in section 101(d).
(4)Demonstration
project siteThe term
demonstration project site
means a site within a demonstration
project forest at which pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest
restoration activities will be conducted under section 102.
(5)Insect or
disease emergency areaThe
term insect or disease emergency area
means National Forest
System land or public land in a covered State designated by the Secretary under
section 201 as the site for emergency removal of dead and dying trees under
such section.
(6)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)).
(7)The term public
land
has the meaning given the term in section 103(e) of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702(e)).
(8)The
term Secretary
means the Secretary of Agriculture, except in
title II, in which the term means—
(A)the Secretary of Agriculture with respect
to National Forest System land; and
(B)the Secretary of the Interior with respect
to public land.
(9)The term State
forester means the head of a State agency with jurisdiction over State
forestry programs in a covered State.
(10)The term wildland-urban interface has the
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).
<enum>I</enum><header>Pine
Beetle Prevention and Mitigation and Forest Restoration</header>
<section id="H9C00101A858445DAB8CD59FC7750B274"><enum>101.</enum><header>Designation of
demonstration project forests</header>
<subsection id="H7A418710CFB442038918FC3D28DADDE8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designation
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Using the selection
criteria specified in subsection (c), the Secretary shall designate 25
demonstration project forests in the covered States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H36188065964E4A4EB10B1D56134E8539"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Distribution of
demonstration project forests</header>
<paragraph id="HB768B57C1A574D8CB137A21062F6C4DF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in
paragraph (2) or (3), each covered State shall contain at least two
demonstration project forests.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H433AED9564614DDBBECF0941EEA63235"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Special rule for
Nevada</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of Nevada,
the Secretary shall designate all or a portion of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National
Forest as a demonstration project forest for that State notwithstanding the
selection criteria specified in subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9E1A0047C6AC428BB955B975EA3494F4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Special rule for
South Dakota</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of
South Dakota, the Secretary shall designate all or a portion of the Black Hills
National Forest as a demonstration project forest for that State
notwithstanding the selection criteria specified in subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC53E664BC26F456AA1064C8C64C3FEF1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Additional
sites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to the
demonstration project forests required by paragraphs (1) through (3), the
Secretary shall designate three additional demonstration project forests that
the Secretary determines, using the selection criteria specified in subsection
(c), has the greatest need for demonstration projects under section 102. No
covered State may have more than four demonstration project forests located in
whole or in part within that State.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0FFA0F21777A433B9A30A99BD8D9DE2E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Selection
criteria</header>
<paragraph id="HF944A3FF86A0438EBE56799061C5A9D8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Beetle
infestation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At least one
demonstration project forest in each covered State must have a significant
beetle infestation rate, to be determined using the most recent forest survey
data. Priority shall be given to forests located in counties that the Secretary
determines have the greatest need for beetle mitigation or recovery.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H424FC1F8047644CA9B5F7ABBC27A5B7E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Wildland-urban
interface</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the maximum
extent feasible, at least one demonstration project forest in each covered
State shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="H85C3F01264524042AE48ACF86C48B474"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a wildland-urban
interface with significant beetle infestation; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC6ED7370532A4A6ABB379B2CA25D5B6C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an area covered by a Community and Wildfire
Protection Plan.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H258ED8725FCC45B8A1BAB38092990FDB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Protection of
other valuable land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the
maximum extent feasible, at least one demonstration project forest in each
covered State shall be designated based on its proximity to units of the
National Park System, State park units, wilderness areas, or wilderness study
areas with the potential of a future beetle infestation in the demonstration
project forest spreading to the other land. Nothing in this paragraph affects
the law applicable to wilderness or wilderness study areas.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H469ABF63773941C4B37C3378DAF2957F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Use of existing
forest infrastructure</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the
maximum extent feasible, the Secretary shall designate as demonstration project
forests land on which demonstration project sites will be able to utilize and
supply existing forest infrastructure, such as local loggers and mills.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAC9B7B01E8A24C3EA833EEC56E2C8CC2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Certain lands
excluded</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A demonstration
project forest may not include National Forest System land—</text>
<paragraph id="H2F410780C4774DF59772725704BE2F90"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that is designated as wilderness;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7835C7D6C08B4EEA81DB86C9F8805E4A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that is
recommended for wilderness designation in a forest land and resource management
plan; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H96076E8692384E9CAD265DBB68FB4D74"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on which the removal of vegetation is
prohibited or restricted by Act of Congress or Presidential
proclamation.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H04B438CEE29342048ACA7AA8AE05C203"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Deadline for
designation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall complete the designation process within 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H3174D75CA57B4399BDF288E0E5855F64"><enum>102.</enum><header>Pine beetle
prevention and mitigation and forest restoration demonstration
projects</header>
<subsection id="HAB3B6195DB6E41E5949C3959DE30E802"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Desired future
conditions report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary shall complete or update the desired future conditions report for
each demonstration project forest, with focus on beetle outbreaks and
infestation, including reducing fire and public health threats and preventing
infestation in unaffected forest stands.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF8322914AABD4AA982F3121485D40AF2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Demonstration
project sites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall identify specific demonstration project sites within each demonstration
project forest and develop pine beetle prevention, mitigation, or forest
restoration projects for each demonstration project site. Such projects may
include projects already in the scoping, planning, or implementation
process.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2C4253D5659C4EBB8D4BE5A40DE77F74"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Stewardship
contracts</header>
<paragraph id="H02E0AB5712F74274909764A84379FFC9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Using the authority
provided by section 347 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 1999 (16 U.S.C. 2104 note; as contained in section 101(e)
of division A of Public Law 105–277), the Secretary shall enter into
stewardship contracts, in consultation with private industry and State forest
managers, that meet the particular needs of each demonstration project site. A
stewardship contract shall be no fewer than 7 years, and up to 20 years in
duration, and encompass at least 10,000 acres, including any insect or disease
emergency area also covered by the contract.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H07AD9DF3D96A45A3BDF4DB0A716AEF6A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Forest health
and restoration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At least one
stewardship contract for each demonstration project forest shall be developed
primarily for the purpose of forest health and ecosystem restoration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7BF8DB5526144AED943DFACD3362D09F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Protection of
other valuable land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At least
one stewardship contract for each demonstration project forest shall be
developed primarily for the purpose of preventing future bark beetle outbreaks
within that forest or preventing the potential future spread of a beetle
outbreak to units of the National Park System, State park units, wilderness
areas, or wilderness study areas.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H33ED0EE19FEF4C7EB63DFFF062C9E053"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Deadline for
implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Within 270
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H92C3D9739B7743E89ED90B5CD7245109"><enum>(1)</enum><text>complete the
desired future conditions reports required by subsection (a);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF7B3068015D845FE804F5A2DC3AEB3E3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify initial
demonstration project sites under subsection (b); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9C56EBE33FF44FD7A73D567188CFB34F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>begin entering
into stewardship contracts under subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFE525BAF09A54998A6FEBC94D83DCEA6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Progress
reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one
year after the initial identification of a demonstration project site, and
every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the progress of meeting the desired future conditions for the demonstration
project site.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H2649FEDD948B42EB9198A7679109C387"><enum>103.</enum><header>Grants to
support forest products industry participation in pine beetle prevention and
mitigation and forest restoration demonstration projects</header>
<subsection id="HC7B0F5341ECC4533A3855D7206A25650"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Grants
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
make competitive grants to support forest products industry—</text>
<paragraph id="HC0D19A12848940798CA782A84421FFB7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>participation in
pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration activities
conducted under section 102 at demonstration project site within a
demonstration project forest; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5995F018B837461891810A6EE0AA83F0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use of forest materials derived from such
pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration activities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5B5C0569D8CF406EA16DB5E796A6AD8B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of
grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A grant recipient
shall use the grant funds only to start, restart, or support infrastructure to
allow for the removal and processing of trees under the terms of a stewardship
contract developed under section 102.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H595AD84E54DD448D924D2437C35759E3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Maximum grant
amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Total grant amounts
under this section for a single demonstration project site may not exceed
$3,000,000.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDC1F65FB490F40AE95F441C40B04737A"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary $75,000,000 to make grants under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H122FDDCD0C8C48A5A42E29DAE9C4B8E4"><enum>104.</enum><header>Treatment of
biomass removed from demonstration project site</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Any biomass removed from a demonstration
project site shall be deemed to be renewable biomass for purposes of the
renewable fuel program under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.
7545(o)).</text>
</section><section id="HBBFA266CEF1E4C87859F1617F2557E14"><enum>105.</enum><header>Conforming
changes to stewardship contracting authority</header>
<subsection id="H51617D60FF574225BE7D21E3773D7176"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Permanent
stewardship contracting authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 347(a) of the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (16 U.S.C. 2104 note; as
contained in section 101(e) of division A of Public Law 105–277) is amended by
striking <quote>Until September 30, 2013, the</quote> and inserting
<quote>The</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA877C8C2FF0C41A9AA6C82E2B763B544"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Treatment of
cancellation costs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
347 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
1999 (16 U.S.C. 2104 note; as contained in section 101(e) of division A of
Public Law 105–277) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40C78CEB3F7646BC938C10D728C2DE3B" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HCCD3558DFD144A528E30E4C19D8B4836"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Treatment of
cancellation costs</header>
<paragraph id="H867B0C4419374A69B92C8F40C99A8DC0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitation on
obligation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, including section 304B of the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 254c), the Forest Service may
not obligate funds to cover the cost of canceling a Forest Service multiyear
stewardship contract under subsection (a) until the date on which the multiyear
stewardship contract is cancelled.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8022CA1497B247479534CD7E8374DD75"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Costs of
cancellation or termination</header><text>The costs of any cancellation or
termination of a multiyear stewardship contract described in paragraph (1) may
be paid from any appropriations available to the Forest Service. In the event
such appropriations are exhausted—</text>
<subparagraph id="H11338A1E9DD9496A9FC1F13B40B686FF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the exhaustion of
such appropriations shall not be considered to be a violation of section 1341
of title 31, United States Code; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H995528CB1A0F4A83AA8AE8EF253C24F4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of
Agriculture shall seek a supplemental
appropriation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H2D9E3835CEF14088BD32574ED09C4920"><enum>106.</enum><header>Environmental
analysis and decision document</header>
<subsection id="HF0C0F567B89C4C78966728BA899B1107"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirements</header>
<paragraph id="HAED18F700FF14BD1A8EC3CAEF267F536"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Applicable
law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as otherwise
provided in this section, the Secretary shall comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq.), any regulations
promulgated to carry out that Act, and other applicable laws in designing and
conducting pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration
projects for a demonstration project site.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDC579444C42140ADAA770C19F787ACC8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Single EA or
EIS</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
prepare a single environmental assessment or environmental impact statement
pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4332(2)) for an entire demonstration project site.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBDC8A8C7ED6748FC90369F680E0763DF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limited
consideration of alternatives</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is not required to study,
develop, or analyze any alternatives in the environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement other than the proposed agency action and the
alternative of no action in designing pine beetle prevention and mitigation and
forest restoration projects for a demonstration project site.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F51CC4BB701417799D7285202D05D36"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Public
Comment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In accordance with
section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4332(2)) and the applicable regulations and administrative guidelines, the
Secretary shall provide an opportunity for public comment during the
preparation of the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement
for pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration projects for a
demonstration project site.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H14D2FEF9FAE749D4BDAB515D04AF1FC0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Required
consultation</header>
<paragraph id="H6BE03BE6BEF04D0FA3B8B4C74757FEF4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Compliance with
endangered species act of 1973</header>
<subparagraph id="H1D8D4E52F87A460EAED40C618ACF23CB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as otherwise
provided in this section, the Secretary shall comply with section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) in designing and conducting
pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration projects for a
demonstration project site.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC7C7E54C29F5474CB9FC041ECD274631"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deadline for
completion</header><text>If the consultation required under this paragraph is
not completed by the date on which the decision document is issued under
subsection (c), 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="H19B7683C727849BFBE836A58E6868D1B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Other required
consultation</header>
<subparagraph id="H59E9C93B6E97419DABEEF5FF6F571AC7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any consultation
required under any other laws, such as the National Historic Preservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), may proceed simultaneously with the design of the pine
beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration project.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H911CB634C630499D9B01B88A75DB2D1C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Incorporation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the extent feasible, practicable, and
consistent with the objectives of the pine beetle prevention and mitigation and
forest restoration project, the results of any consultation required under
subparagraph (A) shall be immediately incorporated into the project.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD9227CE4BF3F4AB296381A8B331FBCA7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Public Notice
and Meeting</header>
<paragraph id="H60090CD9C1934770A4CA607C9C1FBBC6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Public
notice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
provide notice of each pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest
restoration project in accordance with applicable regulations and
administrative guidelines.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1BAAFF6E6050497684711DB4E2862D32"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Public
meeting</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the
preparation stage of the pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest
restoration project, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5FF6EC1C7F99479A8953B2878517BE77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>conduct a public
meeting at an appropriate location in the demonstration project forest in which
the project will be conducted; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H874714E3DDAB44478449686587956EDC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide advance
notice of the location, date, and time of the meeting.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H98D9A482C04144DF9A8954AFD54872B7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Public
Collaboration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to
encourage meaningful public participation during preparation of pine beetle
prevention and mitigation and forest restoration projects, the Secretary shall
facilitate collaboration among State and local governments and Indian tribes,
and participation of interested persons, during the preparation of the
projects.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2ABE8B161675464AA644C82186506994"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Decision
Document</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
sign a decision document for a pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest
restoration project and provide notice of the final agency actions.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF60281DA0DDD4BF5B657E3923124D783"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall implement the pine
beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration project as soon as
practicable after the issuance of the decision document, subject only to the
availability of funds for the project.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HDDAFB60D13DB4F72B5B37E8800D46B89"><enum>107.</enum><header>Predecisional
administrative review process and judicial review</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Sections 105 and 106 of the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6515, 6516) shall apply to pine beetle
prevention and mitigation and forest restoration projects for a demonstration
project site.</text>
</section><section id="H808337BA097E47A7876D728AF9FB7D28"><enum>108.</enum><header>Availability of
Reforestation Trust Fund</header>
<subsection id="H90EE6976390C4346A1B69EFF2C510B8B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Inapplicability
of limitation on transfers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 303(b)(2) of Public Law 96–451 (16
U.S.C. 1606a(b)(2)) shall not apply to limit the transfer of amounts to the
Reforestation Trust Fund until such date as the Secretary notifies the
Secretary of the Treasury that funds are no longer needed to design and conduct
pine beetle prevention and mitigation and forest restoration projects at
demonstration project sites.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H670FE071560F44318CD7DD50D314D7E9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Availability of
Reforestation Trust Fund</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts transferred to the Reforestation
Trust Fund for a fiscal year in excess of $30,000,000 shall be available to the
Secretary to carry out this title.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H3FA2C7D6C07F43738B06886D7E9A603F"><enum>109.</enum><header>Acceptance of
donations</header>
<subsection id="H7E49789B49444CDB8A99751AB37AB9D6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To
Accept Gifts and Donations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary
may accept gifts and donations for purposes of defraying the costs of carrying
out this title. The Secretary may solicit donations—</text>
<paragraph id="H99BEA23E282B4DD3A5FC6FE5F2E73AC0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>at National Forest
System visitor centers; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0EF957604E5145D3B64D4DD1D269D480"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in connection with
the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses or campground reservations.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCF4B984CD21E42C1A5FD470C72A490E8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may not accept a gift or
donation under subsection (a) if acceptance of the gift or donation would
compromise or appear to compromise—</text>
<paragraph id="HB16FB08E06F64D0689E263A976E35978"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the ability of the Forest Service or any
employee of the Forest Service to carry out the responsibility or duty of the
Forest Service in a fair and objective manner; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA830C3055868441F958D73FD1DD060F2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the integrity of
any program of the Forest Service or of any person involved in such a
program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H441DEC87AF3D477D85F15CD11C0C4C79"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Criteria for
Acceptance</header><text>The Secretary shall prescribe written guidance setting
forth the criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of a gift
or donation would have a result described in subsection (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1984951807CF4DC594556A68F2059E51"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Crediting of
donations</header><text>Funds accepted by the Secretary under section (a) shall
be credited to appropriations available to carry out this title.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Good
Neighbor and Emergency Ecosystem, Watershed, and Human Health and Safety
Authorities</header>
<section id="H72F011E27836499A90041498FC952B34"><enum>201.</enum><header>Designation of
insect or disease emergency areas</header>
<subsection id="HC91813AAFEAA4635875C3D9726359973"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designation
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Using the
selection criteria specified in subsection (c), the Secretary may designate
National Forest System land or public land in a covered State as an insect or
disease emergency area from which dead and dying trees may be removed in
response to threats to human health and safety.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB0A87620FCD34F7A8CE3E95CAC46A260"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consideration of
designation proposals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary concerned shall accept and consider proposals for the designation of
insect or disease emergency areas submitted by—</text>
<paragraph id="H5E8AA5C5B6A64F048A34DC3E46B557CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Governor of a
covered State;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H355CB53C23024B03BEA4CD8BE847260E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a
State forester;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC1A0017586EF47659A95997E2A5E02EB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a
Water Conservation District; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3746FCC43561470F9207ECB3A2487822"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an at-risk
community.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5B84D042C5A842B88107C9572EA838C8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Selection
criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
designate an insect or disease emergency area if the Secretary determines that
an excessive number of dead and dying trees on the National Forest System land
or public land to be designated has resulted in an unacceptable threat of fire
or falling trees on campgrounds, roadways, power lines, watersheds, at-risk
communities, or wildland-urban interface areas or other unacceptable threats to
human health and safety.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H428D8B54A2FA40629D3A45EB49A4CD67"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Certain lands
excluded</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An insect or disease
emergency area may not include National Forest System land or public
land—</text>
<paragraph id="HE532B1DEB3A040EC80EA010F99B53D4B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that is designated as wilderness;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC4585CC5856D49AF9718D169329470F2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that is
recommended for wilderness designation in a forest land and resource management
plan; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H264415343C374523BF2B8387934F9E44"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on which the removal of vegetation is
prohibited or restricted by Act of Congress or Presidential
proclamation.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCE351E9513344DD18BC4248E2D815DEA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Effect of
designation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the one-year
period beginning on the date of the designation of an insect or disease
emergency area, projects for the removal of dead and dying trees in the insect
or disease emergency area shall be categorically excluded from documentation in
an environmental impact statement and environmental assessment under the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if the
decision to categorically exclude the project is made in accordance with
applicable extraordinary circumstances procedures established pursuant to
section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC7160F4F4C4D48DBB18D30F46971410D"><enum>202.</enum><header>Treatment of
biomass removed from insect or disease emergency areas</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Any biomass removed from an insect or
disease emergency area shall be deemed to be renewable biomass for purposes of
the renewable fuel program under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.
7545(o)).</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H206BE0D25F1C47529D7E91C929948044" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Use of State foresters to provide forest,
rangeland, and watershed restoration and protection services on Federal
land</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82D17EA22B954DFA9AAA668ABBE0EFB0"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cooperative agreements and contracts
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
enter into a cooperative agreement or contract (including a sole source
contract) with the State forester of a covered State to authorize the State
forester to provide forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration and protection
services described in subsection (b) on the National Forest System land or
public land covered by the agreement or contract.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3CE51F436AF8476D84DF29C45CB517A6"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorized services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Forest, rangeland, and watershed
restoration and protection services authorized by subsection (a) include the
conduct of—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H69054DD736F548AA8D999CEF05A45403"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">activities to treat insect infected
trees;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H11E9DD05549C43B69A23786D58651B91"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">activities to reduce hazardous fuels;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H61CE8030061641BD951B9ECF754DD3C6"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other activities to restore or improve
forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife
habitat.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB829ED46068D4416BA68699D060AA313"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State
as agent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided
in subsection (f), a cooperative agreement or contract entered into under
subsection (a) may authorize the State forester to serve as the agent for the
Secretary in providing the restoration and protection services authorized under
the agreement or contract.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H17A4DB8BBE0149BC97C2FF9B265D9DBA"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subcontracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In accordance with applicable contract
procedures for the covered State, a State forester may enter into subcontracts
to provide the restoration and protection services authorized under a
cooperative agreement or contract entered into under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5AD0EFDF9E2549A59A96C169EB436444"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Timber sales</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsections (d) and (g) of section 14 of
the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a) shall not apply to
services performed under a cooperative agreement or contract entered into under
subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D0F6619E9784BCABFF4B8E02BC65CB8"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Retention of NEPA
responsibilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any decision
required to be made under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to any restoration and protection services to
be provided by a State forester under a cooperative agreement or contract
entered into under subsection (a) on National Forest System land or public land
shall not be delegated to a State forester or any other officer or employee of
the covered State.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8330B6E3F93D44F587EA74D9F0022164"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicable
law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The restoration and
protection services to be provided under this section shall be carried out on a
project-to-project basis under existing authorities of the Forest Service or
Bureau of Land Management, as applicable.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCE8A3DAA8DA24A3DA43F94EEB217102D"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC234FB49C01942EE86A0BCEAE437E81E"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority of the Secretary to enter
into cooperative agreements and contracts under this section terminates on
September 30, 2018.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFDDEA4F4EA1C4EAAA35E750A0C2E9027"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contract termination date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The termination date of a cooperative
agreement or contract entered into under this section shall not extend beyond
September 30, 2019.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HCD878C3E79A544DDB2A3A4D5049A2230"><enum>204.</enum><header>Removal of dead
and dying trees from rights-of-way on Federal land</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H50179ABC2A3D4DCB9E1E652111BA0AC4"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cooperative agreements and contracts
authorized</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may
enter into a cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, or contract
(including a sole source contract) with a State department of transportation,
State or Federal public utility commission, or private utility company to
authorize the removal of dead and dying trees from a right-of-way held by the
department, commission, or company on National Forest System land or public
land in a covered State.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2C5B7D5DACC544C48FE83B0A0B42D7FC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Hold
harmless</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Until a cooperative
agreement, memorandum of understanding, or contract is entered into with a
private utility company for the removal of dead and dying trees from
rights-of-way held by the company on National Forest System land or public land
in a covered State, the company shall not be liable for damages resulting from
fallen dead or dying trees on any right-of-way held by the company on National
Forest System land or public land within any beetle infested area.</text>
</subsection></section>