<enum>I</enum><header>Landscape-Scale Forest Restoration</header><section id="id0b5e2fff6626474f9a23f0e9957c0663"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="idb05da7d26f4049c2b9f6e1a119eb84f6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Conservation finance agreement</header><text>The term <term>conservation finance agreement</term> means a mutual benefit agreement (excluding a procurement contract, grant, or cooperative agreement described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/31/63">chapter 63</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code)—</text><subparagraph id="idbb6fcf13962841edbe34b434ab4ede2a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the term of which is more than 1, but not more than 20, years;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd4a9082f7c3a4db2b343584c7d4c03ec"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that may provide that performance under the agreement during the second and subsequent years of the agreement is contingent on the appropriation of funds; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0ca843bd824c491f8d6b16587498acde" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>if the agreement does so provide, that may provide for a cancellation payment to be made to the partner if those appropriations are not made. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd5e5bb9993d4468bb27fa020c19d2c14"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Ecological conditions</header><text>The term <term>ecological conditions</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idea9d5df5ab59401d8f95a9ef190ad496"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Ecological integrity</header><text>The term <term>ecological integrity</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id959f86ca6111491d8557efb231463526"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Landscape assessment</header><text>The term <term>landscape assessment</term> means an assessment of a landscape that—</text><subparagraph id="id3EF8AB46E6434A2CA789E81C427251AE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>meets the requirements described in section 103(c)(1)(C);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id98474cf8933b461b9fb1471979cbffa1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not constitute a decision document or final agency action requiring a separate analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida5f60915d7cc46f6bc9c89e1d71d6e66"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may be presented—</text><clause id="id37ee4ddb384a4d6293a4edcaedb2b7e0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in a separate analysis;</text></clause><clause id="id30d64cb5dc51417db5904ea106924e4e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>within 1 or more broader analyses, including analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.); or</text></clause><clause id="id6ee0ca23b79b4b0fb033577a0bec253a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>through a combination of the analyses described in clauses (i) and (ii). </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id63f99394c8714b8fab15763b06e2b18c"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Restore</header><text>The term <term>restore</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb4107a21e4754beba5dc97a332ce70bf"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idFA728977050A48D9AE9C8C2706325173"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Wildland-urban interface</header><text>The term <quote>wildland-urban interface</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6511">16 U.S.C. 6511</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></section><section id="id90b0f5f62640456ba83e79f1c47237ce"><enum>102.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of this title is to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration and reduction in the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire through— </text><paragraph id="idc6889352fc194c8ba09c5ad624c6b884"><enum>(1)</enum><text>authorizing a pilot program with conservation finance agreement authority to leverage other Federal and non-Federal investment (excluding funds appropriated to the Forest Service) in landscape-scale forest restoration and related natural and built infrastructure, equipment, and job training;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6f43d5fe42234da89f18a255d1003c88"><enum>(2)</enum><text>project planning and analysis practices that effectively scale up to the landscape level of 100,000 acres or more;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e517c11fc0a468a8a2b88fdd6a3d4eb"><enum>(3)</enum><text>requiring ecological standards and collaboration for landscape-scale projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5c02f32caad2430da940b69a4615fcc4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>coordination with Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies to expand personnel options to support the pilot program described in paragraph (1) by taking advantage of interorganizational support. </text></paragraph></section><section id="idefedb2ab385b4bfcb95aa6ae17ba3bae"><enum>103.</enum><header>Selection and implementation of landscape-scale forest restoration projects</header><subsection id="idd6436024d81242649f66128da1afd85b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall select, in accordance with this section, landscape-scale forest restoration projects—</text><paragraph id="idf99a47bfcc824bf3b78e81fd80800472"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to implement on National Forest System land; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8660f5aaf5744f88aa1680b709eb98ae"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if applicable, to implement on land adjoining National Forest System land, in coordination with other Federal and non-Federal entities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA69C9B9404EF435AB4252CF15094314F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Initial phase</header><text>During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations pursuant to section 107(a), the Secretary shall select not more than 20 landscape-scale forest restoration projects under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="id0e1af87134b149829cd945d08f785a09"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligibility requirements</header><paragraph id="id868cd73776ef42c8bd30702dd71ed441"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), to be eligible for selection and implementation under subsection (a), a landscape-scale forest restoration project shall satisfy the following requirements:</text><subparagraph id="id5840019ea5f744da8fe085fc8e9fc8a5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The purposes and needs for the project shall be—</text><clause id="id80D38B5463454442957E5354FF40EB9D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to restore the ecological integrity and ecological resilience of terrestrial and aquatic areas that have departed from reference conditions within the forest landscape;</text></clause><clause id="idDB703C8137AD426BAC17E87F7EE0878B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to restore appropriate natural fire regimes, including by reducing fuel loads and modifying forest structure in areas that have departed from reference conditions, taking into account the current and projected impacts of climate change; and</text></clause><clause id="id8852964F460B4A35AA7D83D9A8DF7894"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to conduct wildfire risk reduction activities within the wildland-urban interface to the extent that the project includes lands within the wildland-urban interface.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3daf2041bf9d44cfb2f3a8716340cf63"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The project shall be developed and supported by a collaborative group that—</text><clause id="id5eb3b7de782c403483d58ac8948ed5cf"><enum>(i)</enum><text>includes multiple interested persons representing diverse interests;</text></clause><clause id="id5885f4b771734d48b91c937f0ab505d0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is transparent and inclusive; and</text></clause><clause id="idf3f9dc0cb23b4c08bb5d9e5a89f0bcf1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has sufficient expertise, capacity, and scientific support to effectively plan, implement, and monitor landscape-level, ecologically based forest restoration activities.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id093c7d3bf5d64bf195ae23dfb4ddd5d6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The project shall be based on a landscape assessment that shall—</text><clause id="idfa230a029bd3469cb507b3717aed37bd"><enum>(i)</enum><text>cover a landscape of—</text><subclause id="id37ED82D1AAE84560AC87C03257FD53C2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>except as provided in subclauses (II) and (III), not less than 100,000 acres;</text></subclause><subclause id="id8CEFD7A1A5A443018BEEC4B5ACE7EC1E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in such limited cases as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, not less than 80,000 acres if—</text><item id="idE2CDBDBCD8184726A4D4C5899B683328"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the assessment is completed or substantially completed as of the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></item><item id="idAE8E7E70895F4DC3B7018F100C952159"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>in the determination of the Secretary, assessing a larger area is not necessary to restore the integrity, resilience, and fire regimes of the landscape; or</text></item></subclause><subclause id="idC0586F5559974886B94364DE38A3E6DD"><enum>(III)</enum><text>not less than 50,000 acres in the case of a project that is carried out east of the 100th meridian;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id9888081e1a0542b4bff729bedd6830fe"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>evaluate ecological integrity and determine reference conditions for the landscape;</text></clause><clause id="id5c87f06987fa4538b64d0e1fc9991134"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>identify terrestrial and aquatic areas within the landscape that have departed from reference conditions;</text></clause><clause id="id6927dfda48734b579e7788019e3f4e2f"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>identify criteria to determine appropriate restoration treatments within degraded areas of the landscape to achieve reference conditions, including management prescriptions, mitigation measures, and constraints to be applied when carrying out actions in those areas;</text></clause><clause id="idf15b1d3501de4c388213e0f98b579fec"><enum>(v)</enum><text>be based on the best available scientific information and data, including, where applicable, high-resolution imagery, LiDAR, and similar technologies and information, and involve direct engagement by scientists; and</text></clause><clause id="idc23e7d8acb38436587e8ba3f9f4059e9"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>identify priority restoration strategies for terrestrial and aquatic areas, including prescribed fire and wildfires managed for multiple resource benefits, which shall focus on—</text><subclause id="iddce9cd8d5b0a4da689e30863465052c2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>areas that are the most departed from reference conditions; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id2698fb3fdbc14e3cbc46aced7aebe4e7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>areas that would benefit the most from reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, especially with respect to nearby communities, taking into account other completed, ongoing, and planned fuels-reduction projects.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6fd46d0474bb4812abbc56a4b591422a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Restoration treatments under the project—</text><clause id="ide3569ba8048a4b1b88e2a1ea15642119"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall emphasize the reintroduction of characteristic fire, based on forest ecology and reference conditions, through the use of prescribed fire, wildfire managed for resource benefits, or both;</text></clause><clause id="id19c6cde9f6114e1dbd037a71231fecce"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that involve any proposed mechanical treatments shall be designed to promote—</text><subclause id="id9e5e03255a994286b1a746fdbc7ace36"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the restoration of reference conditions in areas that lack ecological integrity, especially the reduction of surface and ladder fuels; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id5e452fbf1b8a4c35bd719d82db69208d"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the establishment of conditions that will facilitate prescribed fire or managed wildfire; </text></subclause></clause><clause id="id57fb1ec4ee6c4e1882058f85dcf70ec8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>shall—</text><subclause id="id32e3f287cf804f699f3799933f1e0558"><enum>(I)</enum><text>fully maintain or contribute to the restoration of reference old forest conditions, taking into account the current and projected impacts of climate change; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idba28f0846b0844c0a7e597c120b282ae"><enum>(II)</enum><text>protect or increase the number and distribution of large old trees, consistent with reference conditions, excepting any de minimis losses of large old trees from prescribed fire or hazardous tree removal; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id521fb832f92045f2a2ec59b57e4a6189"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>that involve prescribed fire shall provide advance notification, in accordance with notification procedures developed by the Secretary, to the owner or operator of critical infrastructure, such as a power line right-of-way, of any prescribed fire treatments within close proximity to the infrastructure.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5b945a2ffc8746518fa0e5dfcacdea77"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The project shall be consistent with all applicable environmental laws, including—</text><clause id="ide45fd1a9366f4998b50a9d1cb0530106"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.);</text></clause><clause id="id3f0e406480524a68bc67e66ed5b003cd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531</external-xref> et seq.); and</text></clause><clause id="id718fb5bc7d62449ba2a02393c802413b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1600">16 U.S.C. 1600</external-xref> et seq.).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1bbd9522d6334af18ab733bfb8e6a4dd"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The project shall be consistent with the Roadless Area Conservation Rule established under part 294 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), and the final rule and record of decision of the Forest Service entitled <quote>Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation</quote> (66 Fed. Reg. 3244 (January 12, 2001)) (or a successor rule).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddf13bea9dfa74bc88707a8c6eba52e39"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The project shall require multiparty monitoring, including opportunities for public engagement, and an adaptive management approach that—</text><clause id="id798bb4f8e0774417936a8c4ab6eebf93"><enum>(i)</enum><text>conditions the future implementation of the project on the satisfactory completion of—</text><subclause id="idc8e5d80deda04360aa9e35a4ebb75ac0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>priority restoration actions; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id550a18ab10f642a48b60a860d1a54535"><enum>(II)</enum><text>required monitoring; </text></subclause></clause><clause id="idACDCC5A540974E1ABF563BA88F5BEAAE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>validates conditions projected to occur in the environmental analysis for the project; and</text></clause><clause id="id30f64b7783994c1e8b3ebee4cd8b6586"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>requires modifications to the project if monitoring reveals impacts beyond the anticipated impacts of the project.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1EA6486DB02A423BBD6C0DFF5C6E81F1"><enum>(H)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id6DA99DAA8FC041F8AE42A9440A02F04F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>No new permanent road may be built as part of the project.</text></clause><clause id="idF6803778CC124BA4B68706F4AAF985E5" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Any new temporary roads needed to implement the project shall be decommissioned not later than 3 years after completion of the project. </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ided3f39d017844b1c9b7fa5b497cbace2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The project shall use an efficient approach to landscape-scale analysis and decisionmaking that is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.), which may include—</text><clause id="id330aee66e1dc4e0f84ab212e471b560c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the preparation of a single environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, as applicable, for the entire project, incorporating the landscape assessment described in subparagraph (C);</text></clause><clause id="id5577bd19a64d4b44af966d46ad2295f6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the use of, as applicable—</text><subclause id="id05300164685c438c8cba8b4e4d53efb2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>multiple records of decision to implement a single environmental impact statement; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id48263ebbe21c40cd9e677414ee7581e2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>multiple decision notices to implement a single environmental assessment;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idceeba88e15374dedad03a46155fcc1bc"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the preparation of a programmatic environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, as applicable, for the entire project, incorporating the landscape assessment described in subparagraph (C), followed by focused, concise, and site-specific—</text><subclause id="id83d2f6ed68254a32a0643f695b4e4a84"><enum>(I)</enum><text>environmental assessments; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idade2a164aa1e4dc6ba180f88ab3e27a8"><enum>(II)</enum><text>categorical exclusions consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.); or</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idab20f34648984984a4e4a76e979121e2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the use of the landscape assessment described in subparagraph (C), through incorporation by reference and similar approaches, to support focused, concise, and site-specific—</text><subclause id="id9dccab3641fb44e2ac122b9826f032d3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>environmental assessments; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idcd9886fa366d4aea8d5c3c22751ed291"><enum>(II)</enum><text>categorical exclusions consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id43a9bacb30d247299b5aabf366969236"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>If the Secretary determines that there are an insufficient number of projects that fully comply with the requirements described in paragraph (1) to implement based on all available funding, then the Secretary may, during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, select under subsection (a) not more than a total of 5 landscape-scale forest restoration projects to implement that do not fully comply with those requirements if the projects—</text><subparagraph id="id9cd39168d5094cca8481d3b5695b9bd7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>fully comply with the requirements described in subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of that paragraph;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id19ade2aeacce4fdda484abb26f44fa30"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the determination of the Secretary, have purposes and needs that are consistent with the purposes and needs described in subparagraph (A) of that paragraph; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide524a9e15dd447fc8804bcea4cd0b371"><enum>(C)</enum><text>are supported by landscape assessments that are substantially (if not completely) consistent with the requirements described in subparagraph (C) of that paragraph, subject to the condition that the applicable landscape assessments fully comply with the requirements described in clauses (i) and (v) of that subparagraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id91b830d9983c41ceb77674aab641e9fc"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Evaluation of eligible projects</header><paragraph id="idc3fe7628bcad4761a69615d8200b48b6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In determining which landscape-scale forest restoration projects to select under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider—</text><subparagraph id="id9871999135f441ad86bbda5f31fbe71f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the criteria described in paragraph (2);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2b7ed490f5d0409aa4ead8c9273b4e96"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the extent to which the project utilizes the approaches to project implementation described in paragraph (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide08eaf5bb097495f8eae895ac56b59ca"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the recommendations of the advisory panel established under subsection (e).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida6609cb20a2d47d6b30b0dd323ce6d1a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>The criteria referred to in paragraph (1)(A) are—</text><subparagraph id="id7c7c853fac3141b0a00dab1e8dd38654"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the demonstrated need, based on the best available science, to restore ecological integrity to degraded or departed areas within the landscape covered by the project, taking into account the current and projected impacts of climate change;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc7dfa6ced15146b184101a5d532c1c37"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id58af2a01b81843008f2336f99b02c851"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the importance of watersheds in the area covered by the project for downstream waters supply; and</text></clause><clause id="id385561e859494a48a0fd1ec568041c03" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the opportunity to improve the ecological integrity and ecological conditions of those watersheds and reduce risks to water resources through landscape-scale forest restoration;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id670ab36755e14cd6807c937e979722f1"><enum>(C)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1AE35181052849E1B6412BC025457F46"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the potential extent of cost sharing for the development and implementation of the project from diverse sources, such as State or local governments, water or electric utilities, carbon credits, or private entities; and</text></clause><clause indent="up1" id="id0D870E6A19164D9D86C160B0C7310D09"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the proportion of the non-Federal cost share that is in the form of cash contributions;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide31f79d7c5eb4011bcee51986c300604"><enum>(D)</enum><text>whether the area covered by the project has high-resolution, remote-sensing data and other information available that enables a landscape assessment and a robust analysis and disclosure of the effects and outcomes of implementing restoration activities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd7b0f4d1410145dfa4e1d6363af2b607"><enum>(E)</enum><text>whether the project is using, or will use, innovative approaches to completing resource surveys that are less costly and less time-consuming than usual practices while providing the information necessary for project design and analysis;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51d6e614afa8491e95b3c4be655bb346"><enum>(F)</enum><text>whether the project will reduce the number of miles of permanent roads on National Forest System land that are not necessary for resource management or recreational access;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8733e579215c49ab9601e4fb5daf05d6"><enum>(G)</enum><text>whether the project will assess or quantify the ecosystem service benefits of forest restoration within the landscape covered by the project, such as water, carbon, biodiversity, fire risk reduction, public health, and community safety; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbe562265198b464492e71075f8ffc29b"><enum>(H)</enum><text>whether the project has the potential to support new or existing wood processing infrastructure that can make economic use of the byproducts of forest restoration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd061b052675463ab347a0ec32e59eb3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>whether the project has the potential to support local employment and investment opportunities, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87634531c4734d1caf231698eee1fbb8"><enum>(J)</enum><text>the scale of the landscape assessment for the project, with a preference for projects for which the landscape assessment covers a larger area; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideb43eb5f0b024a3b9cfe1a59b633beb8"><enum>(K)</enum><text>whether the project—</text><clause id="idF87903E2BAAA4119844162D9687FFEC4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>strives to restore ecological integrity and ecological conditions within areas across land ownerships, including State and private land; and</text></clause><clause id="idA3B49DD520C946B984D33B9FED0D0E3D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, and, to the extent practicable, restore ecological integrity, within the wildland-urban interface.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3d05feb1e7c64312875c5c5cff802ba0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Approaches to landscape-scale project implementation</header><text>A landscape-scale restoration project carried out under this section may use 1 or both of the following approaches to project implementation:</text><subparagraph id="id436a381cb32741a0b89e844691b818bb"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Conservation finance agreements</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a conservation finance agreement under the pilot program established under section 104(a) to carry out the project for the purpose of facilitating private, other non-Federal, and other Federal investment (excluding the investment of any other amounts appropriated to the Forest Service)—</text><clause id="id0cd43010a3094330bd6823e32211f2d2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration at the landscape level;</text></clause><clause id="id23aee71c01304ceab1374fc55a855a6f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to support the use of prescribed fire at a greater scale; or</text></clause><clause id="ide2c653c214dc43778d414228f53da2bb"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to make greater economic use of the byproducts of forest restoration to reduce the net cost of forest restoration.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd41cb0a2f2f40928a9a5adba48c5562"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Interagency personnel collaboration</header><text>The Secretary may coordinate with Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies to expand personnel options to support the project by using authorities such as—</text><clause id="idbaf3f70276024422998ec3e57e720cae"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the good neighbor authority under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id5cc189287eff41d19bb576ba61aa17df"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>sections 3371 through 3376 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>Intergovernmental Personnel Act</quote>); and</text></clause><clause id="ida8fdad58552f4a49a7a937605e001368"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>part 334 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcd48720c600f4d6cbd59b59f982741a1"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Advisory panel</header><paragraph id="id94a42bf02bbb45f387c71524d3e22112"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and maintain an advisory panel composed of not more than 15 members to evaluate, and provide recommendations on—</text><subparagraph id="idFC629606AEAE4B1693DA06EE14D269F4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each landscape-scale forest restoration project that the Secretary is reviewing for potential selection under subsection (a); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd62596b23b1445a0bb218bbeaa362a1d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>proposals for planning and developing landscape-scale forest restoration projects that the Secretary is reviewing for potential funding under section 107(a)(1). </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id51ef22df5f22470b9107048e3317867b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Representation</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of the advisory panel established under paragraph (1) is fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed by the advisory panel.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide5c9bea399384a2f95671947e892eab1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Inclusion</header><text>The advisory panel established under paragraph (1) shall include experts in ecological forest restoration, fire ecology, fire management, rural economic and workforce development, strategies for ecological adaptation to climate change, fish and wildlife ecology, and woody biomass and small-diameter tree utilization.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4bd3cc7a94a54122a8386741b725ef14" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Exemption</header><text>The advisory panel established under paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id980491a2a5854ace95c14a308b29cd19"><enum>104.</enum><header>Conservation finance agreements</header><subsection id="ide5ad974065304fd582a0b2a2366d3dc6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pilot program authority</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary may enter into a conservation finance agreement with a public or private person, including a for-profit or nonprofit organization, to plan, implement, and monitor a landscape-scale forest restoration project selected by the Secretary under section 103(a) if the Secretary finds each of the following:</text><paragraph id="idc43b101e717a4d3d90712bd30db0e5af"><enum>(1)</enum><text>There is a reasonable expectation that, throughout the contemplated agreement period, the Secretary will request funding for the agreement at the level required to avoid agreement cancellation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id154fa659aa5e495398d97a2cbd053919"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The environmental analysis for the project demonstrates that there is a sufficient supply of small-diameter material to support a long-term agreement consistent with the landscape assessment and all applicable environmental laws.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb8fe9e32684c4603b3f93f8c34737965"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The use of the conservation finance agreement will, in the area of the applicable landscape-scale forest restoration project, assist in achieving the purpose described in section 102.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id530d1b07e5424a30a9e7bbc86ab090e2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The project involves an entity that demonstrates experience in—</text><subparagraph id="idb4486be8f0c64e6bb50c9de317de5257"><enum>(A)</enum><text>developing and implementing conservation finance public-private partnerships; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3ad42d080f0a40baab5bca0de4697d3a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>raising capital commitments from concessional and market rate investors or other external financing. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbb6da9f9e68541d9b321ba6b001ef91f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limited delegation</header><text>The Secretary may not delegate the pilot program authority under subsection (a) to a Federal official that serves under the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd7c24eb71ef646fbb5baf27a4b30aa8e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>The pilot program authority under subsection (a)—</text><paragraph id="id478368cdbb614a45a8b2c8adfbc7477e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>may be used for the obligation under conservation finance agreements of not more than—</text><subparagraph id="ided1a7d5fe30642078712562490725137"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$250,000,000 in the aggregate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida66c33e74c0f46338f4bb6798645fbe7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$50,000,000 for any 1 landscape-scale forest restoration project; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id673ffbb7c6e1483f8231e984e75d10fa"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may not be used to pay interest to any other entity providing funds for the applicable landscape-scale forest restoration project.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id07998b3aae2346a38b81300b0b52ab27"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Cancellation, termination, or modification for insufficient funding</header><paragraph id="idc3048cef376b4bf5a880546191b09cd8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="id92c5a2db255144d9ae63892b61877289"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Insufficient funding</header><text>If funds are not made available for the continuation of a conservation finance agreement made under this section into a subsequent fiscal year, the agreement shall be canceled, terminated, or modified.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60a6d7a1507c480cac1e6f91dc5e3052"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Payment of costs</header><text>If the Secretary determines that it is necessary to cancel or terminate a conservation finance agreement pursuant to subparagraph (A), and the conservation finance agreement includes a cancellation provision described in paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary may pay the costs of that cancellation or termination using any of the following amounts:</text><clause id="id593d0950e2e340f6959302a43d7bd85d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Appropriations originally available for the performance of the applicable conservation finance agreement.</text></clause><clause id="id7b06856ba3624cbf99b11f90ef7a0ce0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Appropriations currently available for the type of services concerned under the applicable conservation finance agreement, and not otherwise obligated.</text></clause><clause id="ida881d665bdd24b9aa1da47747de2b60c"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Funds appropriated for payments for those costs of cancellation or termination.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcef5b774456e4a47abee26be6a8ab633"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Provisions in agreements</header><subparagraph id="idd19249119b1e4eeab56221788a9b70a9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may provide for cancellation provisions in conservation finance agreements under this section to the extent that those provisions are necessary and in the best interests of the United States.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5d995c9379a341fabbafba09bcbe63dc"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>The cancellation provisions described in subparagraph (A) may include consideration of the recurring and nonrecurring costs of the partner under the applicable conservation finance agreement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A19B32C050C42F1BB9CA96B9047728A"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cancellation ceilings</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H96D785C7AEF44977A5611E8892C8A014"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may obligate funds in stages that are economically or programmatically viable to cover any potential cancellation or termination costs for a conservation finance agreement under paragraph (1)(B) and implement the agreement pursuant to this section.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H504161D45DE748B790596E115C2CCDD2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Advance notice to congress of cancellation ceiling in excess of $25,000,000</header><text>Not later than 30 days before entering into a conservation finance agreement under this section that includes a cancellation ceiling in excess of $25,000,000, but does not include proposed funding for the costs of cancelling the agreement up to that cancellation ceiling, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a written notice that includes—</text><clause id="HE9EC0349F90544DD92923523F710CB46"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a description of the cancellation ceiling amounts proposed for each program year in the agreement;</text></clause><clause id="H93275212F6994FC8A37730A59D7EF059"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the reasons why the cancellation ceiling amounts described under clause (i) were selected;</text></clause><clause id="H6024FC1A831440E3BC46F82B4C95C7DF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a description of the extent to which the costs of agreement cancellation are not included in the budget for the agreement; and</text></clause><clause id="H399D3BE7D24144B19F615967ECF33B9F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>an assessment of the financial risk of not including budgeting for the costs of agreement cancellation.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6BDF52C1AAB846B39900234AF687034F"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Transmittal of notice to omb</header><text>Not later than 14 days after the date on which written notice is provided under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall transmit a copy of the notice to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2adbd2ab3efe4a72a181f2f85715609f"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Relationship of cancellation ceiling to conservation finance agreement</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a conservation finance agreement pursuant to this section that includes partner services in return for payments by the Secretary in future years that are contingent on the appropriation of funds, subject to the requirement that the Secretary shall pay the partner cancellation costs pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) up to the cancellation ceiling applicable to the agreement if funding for the completion of the agreement is not appropriated.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3eb01587e4a54a2e91739dbe23a558d9"><enum>105.</enum><header>Administration</header><subsection id="id166efb4ae4724c07b444cbddbe6dc450"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Guidance</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance on the implementation of this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0b4b2bbec440493daf39d2a86f7b416f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>A landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title shall be implemented consistent with—</text><paragraph id="id07b5e33ddc434303822d66e2b7615d8a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the requirements for the project described in section 103(c); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3a938283b1e0476991bbb3023ae0516d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>all project commitments described in the 1 or more decisions or decision notices relating to the project. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id5ea83b82fb344f4ca552c976b6d7d938"><enum>106.</enum><header>Report evaluating implementation</header><subsection id="id400f1df79cfb4804a25776bb33d9f235"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the implementation of this title, including—</text><paragraph id="ide26a8dc27be04e899a26587a53cd8c0b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a list of the landscape-scale forest restoration projects selected under section 103(a) and the accomplishments under those projects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idab32f98370904396bbf788be5b65fdca"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an evaluation of the approaches to project planning and implementation described in section 103(d)(3) based on the experience of the implementation of those approaches in the projects described in paragraph (1); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id393af0cf95304563990fa0f12ed9efd6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an evaluation of the pilot authority for conservation finance agreements described in section 104, including whether that authority has—</text><subparagraph id="id879d0eb5c76940bfa09e4a157cb7020e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>increased the availability of non-Federal funding sources to assist in landscape-scale forest restoration projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8f0dc6787b034793899baf2d11f496e7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>promoted private or other non-Federal investment in—</text><clause id="id1448359759b24ee18b07852a92ebc87d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>new or existing infrastructure and related equipment that can make use of the byproducts of forest restoration;</text></clause><clause id="ida3be2e13438e492cbdb543898fcb3f57"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the use of prescribed fire at a greater scale;</text></clause><clause id="id67d50d1a086b4e74a0aa00d3c99363a1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>related economic development and workforce training and development;</text></clause><clause id="idb17acb630ab840bd91f4ac2d1bbd1680"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>land management activities enhancing natural infrastructure with benefits for downstream water users; or</text></clause><clause id="idbbcdc2b0c47f4deb86c3d88f7e868f73"><enum>(v)</enum><text>mitigating the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0c6ddeed45934610864be4b8e7e6b3c4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In preparing the report under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the advisory panel established under section 103(e).</text></subsection></section><section id="id95f6a310ce3d4d77bbe347a0f11b929b"><enum>107.</enum><header>Funding</header><subsection id="id77de9433694e428797344acb3183edee"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $250,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, to remain available until expended—</text><paragraph id="idd5f47e5671f24a23865929464c904e01"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to plan and develop potential landscape-scale forest restoration projects under this title that the Secretary and a collaborative group described in section 103(c)(1)(B) shall design—</text><subparagraph id="id62c38c55563c4461a76e25b90fffabc9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to meet the requirements of section 103(c); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9ae553786b4e4ce6915673c27b168c86"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to satisfy the criteria described in section 103(d)(2), to the maximum extent practicable; and </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcfef236f119e4f8b969c9e22de7914c3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects selected under section 103. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id634615645d22474e85d7ceaf1cbe35dc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sources of funding</header><text>Landscape-scale forest restoration projects under this Act may be carried out using—</text><paragraph id="id4ba65db5d3164262bd4987d7eb193d5c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>amounts appropriated under subsection (a);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf6a7671b421d4d4cbc27bd6bbc436712"><enum>(2)</enum><text>other sources of Forest Service funding;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAE943080323C429387309FE73D16C98E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>other sources of Federal funding;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4069d73c65ac4b93950a19f98f2f79ce"><enum>(4)</enum><text>non-Federal funding sources; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e2e9bc207b94835bd7bf02ba7bd5e8c"><enum>(5)</enum><text>any combination of the amounts described in paragraphs (1) through (4).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0f252f6c78a9473ab7a246ea79aa4a00"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cost-share</header><paragraph id="id5508bb1ccf614865b4030e7362feb90e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Federal share</header><subparagraph id="id9FEAA7EAB0914FFEA17197A8678629D7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Planning and development</header><text>The Federal share of the cost of planning and developing a potential landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title shall not exceed 75 percent.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id47889F8B67824383BD9E63EA995382BE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Implementation and monitoring</header><text>The Federal share of the cost of carrying out and monitoring each landscape-scale forest restoration project on National Forest System land under this title shall not exceed 60 percent.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3aeec13c5d8640ab8b5c237800300ca0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Form of non-Federal share</header><text>The non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using funds made available pursuant to this title may include in-kind contributions. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb444bc03d685432faa571fd7f316c02b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Adaptive management</header><text>Not less than 5 percent of the amount made available for each landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title shall be used for monitoring and adaptive management in the applicable landscape.</text></subsection><subsection id="id83bd59965e09496ca401ed1364062b37"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Stewardship contracting</header><text>In the case of a landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title that is covered by an agreement or a contract under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>), the Secretary may use monies retained by the Secretary under subsection (e)(2)(A) of that section to plan, analyze, and implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects within the area covered by that agreement or contract consistent with this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="idcb161e7fdbad40b19f1ee27fa71dea37"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Administrative costs</header><text>Not more than 5 percent of any amounts appropriated to carry out this title may be used for administrative management and program oversight. </text></subsection></section>

117 S1855 IS: Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021 U.S. Senate 2021-05-26 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021

.(b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

TITLE I—Landscape-Scale Forest Restoration

Sec. 101. Definitions.

Sec. 102. Purpose.

Sec. 103. Selection and implementation of landscape-scale forest restoration projects.

Sec. 104. Conservation finance agreements.

Sec. 105. Administration.

Sec. 106. Report evaluating implementation.

Sec. 107. Funding.

TITLE II—Increasing Community Resilience to Wildfire

Sec. 201. Critical infrastructure and microgrid program.

Sec. 202. Retrofits for fire-resilient communities.

Sec. 203. Hazard mitigation using disaster assistance.

Sec. 204. Wildfire detection equipment.

TITLE III—Research, Training, and Capacity Building

Sec. 301. Western prescribed fire centers.

Sec. 302. Innovative forest workforce development program.

Sec. 303. National community capacity and land stewardship grant program.

<enum>I</enum><header>Landscape-Scale Forest Restoration</header><section id="id0b5e2fff6626474f9a23f0e9957c0663"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="idb05da7d26f4049c2b9f6e1a119eb84f6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Conservation finance agreement</header><text>The term <term>conservation finance agreement</term> means a mutual benefit agreement (excluding a procurement contract, grant, or cooperative agreement described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/31/63">chapter 63</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code)—</text><subparagraph id="idbb6fcf13962841edbe34b434ab4ede2a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the term of which is more than 1, but not more than 20, years;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd4a9082f7c3a4db2b343584c7d4c03ec"><enum>(B)</enum><text>that may provide that performance under the agreement during the second and subsequent years of the agreement is contingent on the appropriation of funds; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0ca843bd824c491f8d6b16587498acde" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>if the agreement does so provide, that may provide for a cancellation payment to be made to the partner if those appropriations are not made. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd5e5bb9993d4468bb27fa020c19d2c14"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Ecological conditions</header><text>The term <term>ecological conditions</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idea9d5df5ab59401d8f95a9ef190ad496"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Ecological integrity</header><text>The term <term>ecological integrity</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id959f86ca6111491d8557efb231463526"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Landscape assessment</header><text>The term <term>landscape assessment</term> means an assessment of a landscape that—</text><subparagraph id="id3EF8AB46E6434A2CA789E81C427251AE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>meets the requirements described in section 103(c)(1)(C);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id98474cf8933b461b9fb1471979cbffa1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>does not constitute a decision document or final agency action requiring a separate analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida5f60915d7cc46f6bc9c89e1d71d6e66"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may be presented—</text><clause id="id37ee4ddb384a4d6293a4edcaedb2b7e0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in a separate analysis;</text></clause><clause id="id30d64cb5dc51417db5904ea106924e4e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>within 1 or more broader analyses, including analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.); or</text></clause><clause id="id6ee0ca23b79b4b0fb033577a0bec253a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>through a combination of the analyses described in clauses (i) and (ii). </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id63f99394c8714b8fab15763b06e2b18c"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Restore</header><text>The term <term>restore</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb4107a21e4754beba5dc97a332ce70bf"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idFA728977050A48D9AE9C8C2706325173"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Wildland-urban interface</header><text>The term <quote>wildland-urban interface</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6511">16 U.S.C. 6511</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></section><section id="id90b0f5f62640456ba83e79f1c47237ce"><enum>102.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of this title is to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration and reduction in the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire through— </text><paragraph id="idc6889352fc194c8ba09c5ad624c6b884"><enum>(1)</enum><text>authorizing a pilot program with conservation finance agreement authority to leverage other Federal and non-Federal investment (excluding funds appropriated to the Forest Service) in landscape-scale forest restoration and related natural and built infrastructure, equipment, and job training;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6f43d5fe42234da89f18a255d1003c88"><enum>(2)</enum><text>project planning and analysis practices that effectively scale up to the landscape level of 100,000 acres or more;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e517c11fc0a468a8a2b88fdd6a3d4eb"><enum>(3)</enum><text>requiring ecological standards and collaboration for landscape-scale projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5c02f32caad2430da940b69a4615fcc4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>coordination with Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies to expand personnel options to support the pilot program described in paragraph (1) by taking advantage of interorganizational support. </text></paragraph></section><section id="idefedb2ab385b4bfcb95aa6ae17ba3bae"><enum>103.</enum><header>Selection and implementation of landscape-scale forest restoration projects</header><subsection id="idd6436024d81242649f66128da1afd85b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall select, in accordance with this section, landscape-scale forest restoration projects—</text><paragraph id="idf99a47bfcc824bf3b78e81fd80800472"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to implement on National Forest System land; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8660f5aaf5744f88aa1680b709eb98ae"><enum>(2)</enum><text>if applicable, to implement on land adjoining National Forest System land, in coordination with other Federal and non-Federal entities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA69C9B9404EF435AB4252CF15094314F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Initial phase</header><text>During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations pursuant to section 107(a), the Secretary shall select not more than 20 landscape-scale forest restoration projects under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="id0e1af87134b149829cd945d08f785a09"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligibility requirements</header><paragraph id="id868cd73776ef42c8bd30702dd71ed441"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), to be eligible for selection and implementation under subsection (a), a landscape-scale forest restoration project shall satisfy the following requirements:</text><subparagraph id="id5840019ea5f744da8fe085fc8e9fc8a5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The purposes and needs for the project shall be—</text><clause id="id80D38B5463454442957E5354FF40EB9D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to restore the ecological integrity and ecological resilience of terrestrial and aquatic areas that have departed from reference conditions within the forest landscape;</text></clause><clause id="idDB703C8137AD426BAC17E87F7EE0878B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to restore appropriate natural fire regimes, including by reducing fuel loads and modifying forest structure in areas that have departed from reference conditions, taking into account the current and projected impacts of climate change; and</text></clause><clause id="id8852964F460B4A35AA7D83D9A8DF7894"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to conduct wildfire risk reduction activities within the wildland-urban interface to the extent that the project includes lands within the wildland-urban interface.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3daf2041bf9d44cfb2f3a8716340cf63"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The project shall be developed and supported by a collaborative group that—</text><clause id="id5eb3b7de782c403483d58ac8948ed5cf"><enum>(i)</enum><text>includes multiple interested persons representing diverse interests;</text></clause><clause id="id5885f4b771734d48b91c937f0ab505d0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is transparent and inclusive; and</text></clause><clause id="idf3f9dc0cb23b4c08bb5d9e5a89f0bcf1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has sufficient expertise, capacity, and scientific support to effectively plan, implement, and monitor landscape-level, ecologically based forest restoration activities.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id093c7d3bf5d64bf195ae23dfb4ddd5d6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The project shall be based on a landscape assessment that shall—</text><clause id="idfa230a029bd3469cb507b3717aed37bd"><enum>(i)</enum><text>cover a landscape of—</text><subclause id="id37ED82D1AAE84560AC87C03257FD53C2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>except as provided in subclauses (II) and (III), not less than 100,000 acres;</text></subclause><subclause id="id8CEFD7A1A5A443018BEEC4B5ACE7EC1E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in such limited cases as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, not less than 80,000 acres if—</text><item id="idE2CDBDBCD8184726A4D4C5899B683328"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the assessment is completed or substantially completed as of the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></item><item id="idAE8E7E70895F4DC3B7018F100C952159"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>in the determination of the Secretary, assessing a larger area is not necessary to restore the integrity, resilience, and fire regimes of the landscape; or</text></item></subclause><subclause id="idC0586F5559974886B94364DE38A3E6DD"><enum>(III)</enum><text>not less than 50,000 acres in the case of a project that is carried out east of the 100th meridian;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id9888081e1a0542b4bff729bedd6830fe"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>evaluate ecological integrity and determine reference conditions for the landscape;</text></clause><clause id="id5c87f06987fa4538b64d0e1fc9991134"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>identify terrestrial and aquatic areas within the landscape that have departed from reference conditions;</text></clause><clause id="id6927dfda48734b579e7788019e3f4e2f"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>identify criteria to determine appropriate restoration treatments within degraded areas of the landscape to achieve reference conditions, including management prescriptions, mitigation measures, and constraints to be applied when carrying out actions in those areas;</text></clause><clause id="idf15b1d3501de4c388213e0f98b579fec"><enum>(v)</enum><text>be based on the best available scientific information and data, including, where applicable, high-resolution imagery, LiDAR, and similar technologies and information, and involve direct engagement by scientists; and</text></clause><clause id="idc23e7d8acb38436587e8ba3f9f4059e9"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>identify priority restoration strategies for terrestrial and aquatic areas, including prescribed fire and wildfires managed for multiple resource benefits, which shall focus on—</text><subclause id="iddce9cd8d5b0a4da689e30863465052c2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>areas that are the most departed from reference conditions; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id2698fb3fdbc14e3cbc46aced7aebe4e7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>areas that would benefit the most from reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, especially with respect to nearby communities, taking into account other completed, ongoing, and planned fuels-reduction projects.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6fd46d0474bb4812abbc56a4b591422a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Restoration treatments under the project—</text><clause id="ide3569ba8048a4b1b88e2a1ea15642119"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall emphasize the reintroduction of characteristic fire, based on forest ecology and reference conditions, through the use of prescribed fire, wildfire managed for resource benefits, or both;</text></clause><clause id="id19c6cde9f6114e1dbd037a71231fecce"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that involve any proposed mechanical treatments shall be designed to promote—</text><subclause id="id9e5e03255a994286b1a746fdbc7ace36"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the restoration of reference conditions in areas that lack ecological integrity, especially the reduction of surface and ladder fuels; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id5e452fbf1b8a4c35bd719d82db69208d"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the establishment of conditions that will facilitate prescribed fire or managed wildfire; </text></subclause></clause><clause id="id57fb1ec4ee6c4e1882058f85dcf70ec8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>shall—</text><subclause id="id32e3f287cf804f699f3799933f1e0558"><enum>(I)</enum><text>fully maintain or contribute to the restoration of reference old forest conditions, taking into account the current and projected impacts of climate change; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idba28f0846b0844c0a7e597c120b282ae"><enum>(II)</enum><text>protect or increase the number and distribution of large old trees, consistent with reference conditions, excepting any de minimis losses of large old trees from prescribed fire or hazardous tree removal; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id521fb832f92045f2a2ec59b57e4a6189"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>that involve prescribed fire shall provide advance notification, in accordance with notification procedures developed by the Secretary, to the owner or operator of critical infrastructure, such as a power line right-of-way, of any prescribed fire treatments within close proximity to the infrastructure.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5b945a2ffc8746518fa0e5dfcacdea77"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The project shall be consistent with all applicable environmental laws, including—</text><clause id="ide45fd1a9366f4998b50a9d1cb0530106"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.);</text></clause><clause id="id3f0e406480524a68bc67e66ed5b003cd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531</external-xref> et seq.); and</text></clause><clause id="id718fb5bc7d62449ba2a02393c802413b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1600">16 U.S.C. 1600</external-xref> et seq.).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1bbd9522d6334af18ab733bfb8e6a4dd"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The project shall be consistent with the Roadless Area Conservation Rule established under part 294 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), and the final rule and record of decision of the Forest Service entitled <quote>Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation</quote> (66 Fed. Reg. 3244 (January 12, 2001)) (or a successor rule).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddf13bea9dfa74bc88707a8c6eba52e39"><enum>(G)</enum><text>The project shall require multiparty monitoring, including opportunities for public engagement, and an adaptive management approach that—</text><clause id="id798bb4f8e0774417936a8c4ab6eebf93"><enum>(i)</enum><text>conditions the future implementation of the project on the satisfactory completion of—</text><subclause id="idc8e5d80deda04360aa9e35a4ebb75ac0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>priority restoration actions; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id550a18ab10f642a48b60a860d1a54535"><enum>(II)</enum><text>required monitoring; </text></subclause></clause><clause id="idACDCC5A540974E1ABF563BA88F5BEAAE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>validates conditions projected to occur in the environmental analysis for the project; and</text></clause><clause id="id30f64b7783994c1e8b3ebee4cd8b6586"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>requires modifications to the project if monitoring reveals impacts beyond the anticipated impacts of the project.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1EA6486DB02A423BBD6C0DFF5C6E81F1"><enum>(H)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id6DA99DAA8FC041F8AE42A9440A02F04F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>No new permanent road may be built as part of the project.</text></clause><clause id="idF6803778CC124BA4B68706F4AAF985E5" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Any new temporary roads needed to implement the project shall be decommissioned not later than 3 years after completion of the project. </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ided3f39d017844b1c9b7fa5b497cbace2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The project shall use an efficient approach to landscape-scale analysis and decisionmaking that is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.), which may include—</text><clause id="id330aee66e1dc4e0f84ab212e471b560c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the preparation of a single environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, as applicable, for the entire project, incorporating the landscape assessment described in subparagraph (C);</text></clause><clause id="id5577bd19a64d4b44af966d46ad2295f6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the use of, as applicable—</text><subclause id="id05300164685c438c8cba8b4e4d53efb2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>multiple records of decision to implement a single environmental impact statement; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id48263ebbe21c40cd9e677414ee7581e2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>multiple decision notices to implement a single environmental assessment;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idceeba88e15374dedad03a46155fcc1bc"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the preparation of a programmatic environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, as applicable, for the entire project, incorporating the landscape assessment described in subparagraph (C), followed by focused, concise, and site-specific—</text><subclause id="id83d2f6ed68254a32a0643f695b4e4a84"><enum>(I)</enum><text>environmental assessments; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idade2a164aa1e4dc6ba180f88ab3e27a8"><enum>(II)</enum><text>categorical exclusions consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.); or</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idab20f34648984984a4e4a76e979121e2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the use of the landscape assessment described in subparagraph (C), through incorporation by reference and similar approaches, to support focused, concise, and site-specific—</text><subclause id="id9dccab3641fb44e2ac122b9826f032d3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>environmental assessments; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idcd9886fa366d4aea8d5c3c22751ed291"><enum>(II)</enum><text>categorical exclusions consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321</external-xref> et seq.).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id43a9bacb30d247299b5aabf366969236"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>If the Secretary determines that there are an insufficient number of projects that fully comply with the requirements described in paragraph (1) to implement based on all available funding, then the Secretary may, during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, select under subsection (a) not more than a total of 5 landscape-scale forest restoration projects to implement that do not fully comply with those requirements if the projects—</text><subparagraph id="id9cd39168d5094cca8481d3b5695b9bd7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>fully comply with the requirements described in subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of that paragraph;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id19ade2aeacce4fdda484abb26f44fa30"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the determination of the Secretary, have purposes and needs that are consistent with the purposes and needs described in subparagraph (A) of that paragraph; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide524a9e15dd447fc8804bcea4cd0b371"><enum>(C)</enum><text>are supported by landscape assessments that are substantially (if not completely) consistent with the requirements described in subparagraph (C) of that paragraph, subject to the condition that the applicable landscape assessments fully comply with the requirements described in clauses (i) and (v) of that subparagraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id91b830d9983c41ceb77674aab641e9fc"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Evaluation of eligible projects</header><paragraph id="idc3fe7628bcad4761a69615d8200b48b6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In determining which landscape-scale forest restoration projects to select under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider—</text><subparagraph id="id9871999135f441ad86bbda5f31fbe71f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the criteria described in paragraph (2);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2b7ed490f5d0409aa4ead8c9273b4e96"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the extent to which the project utilizes the approaches to project implementation described in paragraph (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide08eaf5bb097495f8eae895ac56b59ca"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the recommendations of the advisory panel established under subsection (e).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida6609cb20a2d47d6b30b0dd323ce6d1a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>The criteria referred to in paragraph (1)(A) are—</text><subparagraph id="id7c7c853fac3141b0a00dab1e8dd38654"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the demonstrated need, based on the best available science, to restore ecological integrity to degraded or departed areas within the landscape covered by the project, taking into account the current and projected impacts of climate change;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc7dfa6ced15146b184101a5d532c1c37"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id58af2a01b81843008f2336f99b02c851"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the importance of watersheds in the area covered by the project for downstream waters supply; and</text></clause><clause id="id385561e859494a48a0fd1ec568041c03" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the opportunity to improve the ecological integrity and ecological conditions of those watersheds and reduce risks to water resources through landscape-scale forest restoration;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id670ab36755e14cd6807c937e979722f1"><enum>(C)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id1AE35181052849E1B6412BC025457F46"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the potential extent of cost sharing for the development and implementation of the project from diverse sources, such as State or local governments, water or electric utilities, carbon credits, or private entities; and</text></clause><clause indent="up1" id="id0D870E6A19164D9D86C160B0C7310D09"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the proportion of the non-Federal cost share that is in the form of cash contributions;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide31f79d7c5eb4011bcee51986c300604"><enum>(D)</enum><text>whether the area covered by the project has high-resolution, remote-sensing data and other information available that enables a landscape assessment and a robust analysis and disclosure of the effects and outcomes of implementing restoration activities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd7b0f4d1410145dfa4e1d6363af2b607"><enum>(E)</enum><text>whether the project is using, or will use, innovative approaches to completing resource surveys that are less costly and less time-consuming than usual practices while providing the information necessary for project design and analysis;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51d6e614afa8491e95b3c4be655bb346"><enum>(F)</enum><text>whether the project will reduce the number of miles of permanent roads on National Forest System land that are not necessary for resource management or recreational access;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8733e579215c49ab9601e4fb5daf05d6"><enum>(G)</enum><text>whether the project will assess or quantify the ecosystem service benefits of forest restoration within the landscape covered by the project, such as water, carbon, biodiversity, fire risk reduction, public health, and community safety; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbe562265198b464492e71075f8ffc29b"><enum>(H)</enum><text>whether the project has the potential to support new or existing wood processing infrastructure that can make economic use of the byproducts of forest restoration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd061b052675463ab347a0ec32e59eb3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>whether the project has the potential to support local employment and investment opportunities, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87634531c4734d1caf231698eee1fbb8"><enum>(J)</enum><text>the scale of the landscape assessment for the project, with a preference for projects for which the landscape assessment covers a larger area; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideb43eb5f0b024a3b9cfe1a59b633beb8"><enum>(K)</enum><text>whether the project—</text><clause id="idF87903E2BAAA4119844162D9687FFEC4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>strives to restore ecological integrity and ecological conditions within areas across land ownerships, including State and private land; and</text></clause><clause id="idA3B49DD520C946B984D33B9FED0D0E3D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>will reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, and, to the extent practicable, restore ecological integrity, within the wildland-urban interface.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3d05feb1e7c64312875c5c5cff802ba0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Approaches to landscape-scale project implementation</header><text>A landscape-scale restoration project carried out under this section may use 1 or both of the following approaches to project implementation:</text><subparagraph id="id436a381cb32741a0b89e844691b818bb"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Conservation finance agreements</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a conservation finance agreement under the pilot program established under section 104(a) to carry out the project for the purpose of facilitating private, other non-Federal, and other Federal investment (excluding the investment of any other amounts appropriated to the Forest Service)—</text><clause id="id0cd43010a3094330bd6823e32211f2d2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration at the landscape level;</text></clause><clause id="id23aee71c01304ceab1374fc55a855a6f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to support the use of prescribed fire at a greater scale; or</text></clause><clause id="ide2c653c214dc43778d414228f53da2bb"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to make greater economic use of the byproducts of forest restoration to reduce the net cost of forest restoration.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd41cb0a2f2f40928a9a5adba48c5562"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Interagency personnel collaboration</header><text>The Secretary may coordinate with Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies to expand personnel options to support the project by using authorities such as—</text><clause id="idbaf3f70276024422998ec3e57e720cae"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the good neighbor authority under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id5cc189287eff41d19bb576ba61aa17df"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>sections 3371 through 3376 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>Intergovernmental Personnel Act</quote>); and</text></clause><clause id="ida8fdad58552f4a49a7a937605e001368"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>part 334 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcd48720c600f4d6cbd59b59f982741a1"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Advisory panel</header><paragraph id="id94a42bf02bbb45f387c71524d3e22112"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and maintain an advisory panel composed of not more than 15 members to evaluate, and provide recommendations on—</text><subparagraph id="idFC629606AEAE4B1693DA06EE14D269F4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each landscape-scale forest restoration project that the Secretary is reviewing for potential selection under subsection (a); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd62596b23b1445a0bb218bbeaa362a1d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>proposals for planning and developing landscape-scale forest restoration projects that the Secretary is reviewing for potential funding under section 107(a)(1). </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id51ef22df5f22470b9107048e3317867b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Representation</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of the advisory panel established under paragraph (1) is fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed by the advisory panel.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide5c9bea399384a2f95671947e892eab1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Inclusion</header><text>The advisory panel established under paragraph (1) shall include experts in ecological forest restoration, fire ecology, fire management, rural economic and workforce development, strategies for ecological adaptation to climate change, fish and wildlife ecology, and woody biomass and small-diameter tree utilization.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4bd3cc7a94a54122a8386741b725ef14" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Exemption</header><text>The advisory panel established under paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id980491a2a5854ace95c14a308b29cd19"><enum>104.</enum><header>Conservation finance agreements</header><subsection id="ide5ad974065304fd582a0b2a2366d3dc6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pilot program authority</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary may enter into a conservation finance agreement with a public or private person, including a for-profit or nonprofit organization, to plan, implement, and monitor a landscape-scale forest restoration project selected by the Secretary under section 103(a) if the Secretary finds each of the following:</text><paragraph id="idc43b101e717a4d3d90712bd30db0e5af"><enum>(1)</enum><text>There is a reasonable expectation that, throughout the contemplated agreement period, the Secretary will request funding for the agreement at the level required to avoid agreement cancellation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id154fa659aa5e495398d97a2cbd053919"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The environmental analysis for the project demonstrates that there is a sufficient supply of small-diameter material to support a long-term agreement consistent with the landscape assessment and all applicable environmental laws.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb8fe9e32684c4603b3f93f8c34737965"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The use of the conservation finance agreement will, in the area of the applicable landscape-scale forest restoration project, assist in achieving the purpose described in section 102.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id530d1b07e5424a30a9e7bbc86ab090e2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The project involves an entity that demonstrates experience in—</text><subparagraph id="idb4486be8f0c64e6bb50c9de317de5257"><enum>(A)</enum><text>developing and implementing conservation finance public-private partnerships; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3ad42d080f0a40baab5bca0de4697d3a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>raising capital commitments from concessional and market rate investors or other external financing. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbb6da9f9e68541d9b321ba6b001ef91f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limited delegation</header><text>The Secretary may not delegate the pilot program authority under subsection (a) to a Federal official that serves under the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd7c24eb71ef646fbb5baf27a4b30aa8e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>The pilot program authority under subsection (a)—</text><paragraph id="id478368cdbb614a45a8b2c8adfbc7477e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>may be used for the obligation under conservation finance agreements of not more than—</text><subparagraph id="ided1a7d5fe30642078712562490725137"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$250,000,000 in the aggregate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida66c33e74c0f46338f4bb6798645fbe7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$50,000,000 for any 1 landscape-scale forest restoration project; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id673ffbb7c6e1483f8231e984e75d10fa"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may not be used to pay interest to any other entity providing funds for the applicable landscape-scale forest restoration project.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id07998b3aae2346a38b81300b0b52ab27"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Cancellation, termination, or modification for insufficient funding</header><paragraph id="idc3048cef376b4bf5a880546191b09cd8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="id92c5a2db255144d9ae63892b61877289"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Insufficient funding</header><text>If funds are not made available for the continuation of a conservation finance agreement made under this section into a subsequent fiscal year, the agreement shall be canceled, terminated, or modified.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60a6d7a1507c480cac1e6f91dc5e3052"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Payment of costs</header><text>If the Secretary determines that it is necessary to cancel or terminate a conservation finance agreement pursuant to subparagraph (A), and the conservation finance agreement includes a cancellation provision described in paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary may pay the costs of that cancellation or termination using any of the following amounts:</text><clause id="id593d0950e2e340f6959302a43d7bd85d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Appropriations originally available for the performance of the applicable conservation finance agreement.</text></clause><clause id="id7b06856ba3624cbf99b11f90ef7a0ce0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Appropriations currently available for the type of services concerned under the applicable conservation finance agreement, and not otherwise obligated.</text></clause><clause id="ida881d665bdd24b9aa1da47747de2b60c"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Funds appropriated for payments for those costs of cancellation or termination.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcef5b774456e4a47abee26be6a8ab633"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Provisions in agreements</header><subparagraph id="idd19249119b1e4eeab56221788a9b70a9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may provide for cancellation provisions in conservation finance agreements under this section to the extent that those provisions are necessary and in the best interests of the United States.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5d995c9379a341fabbafba09bcbe63dc"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>The cancellation provisions described in subparagraph (A) may include consideration of the recurring and nonrecurring costs of the partner under the applicable conservation finance agreement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A19B32C050C42F1BB9CA96B9047728A"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cancellation ceilings</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H96D785C7AEF44977A5611E8892C8A014"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may obligate funds in stages that are economically or programmatically viable to cover any potential cancellation or termination costs for a conservation finance agreement under paragraph (1)(B) and implement the agreement pursuant to this section.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H504161D45DE748B790596E115C2CCDD2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Advance notice to congress of cancellation ceiling in excess of $25,000,000</header><text>Not later than 30 days before entering into a conservation finance agreement under this section that includes a cancellation ceiling in excess of $25,000,000, but does not include proposed funding for the costs of cancelling the agreement up to that cancellation ceiling, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a written notice that includes—</text><clause id="HE9EC0349F90544DD92923523F710CB46"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a description of the cancellation ceiling amounts proposed for each program year in the agreement;</text></clause><clause id="H93275212F6994FC8A37730A59D7EF059"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the reasons why the cancellation ceiling amounts described under clause (i) were selected;</text></clause><clause id="H6024FC1A831440E3BC46F82B4C95C7DF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a description of the extent to which the costs of agreement cancellation are not included in the budget for the agreement; and</text></clause><clause id="H399D3BE7D24144B19F615967ECF33B9F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>an assessment of the financial risk of not including budgeting for the costs of agreement cancellation.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6BDF52C1AAB846B39900234AF687034F"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Transmittal of notice to omb</header><text>Not later than 14 days after the date on which written notice is provided under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall transmit a copy of the notice to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2adbd2ab3efe4a72a181f2f85715609f"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Relationship of cancellation ceiling to conservation finance agreement</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a conservation finance agreement pursuant to this section that includes partner services in return for payments by the Secretary in future years that are contingent on the appropriation of funds, subject to the requirement that the Secretary shall pay the partner cancellation costs pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) up to the cancellation ceiling applicable to the agreement if funding for the completion of the agreement is not appropriated.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3eb01587e4a54a2e91739dbe23a558d9"><enum>105.</enum><header>Administration</header><subsection id="id166efb4ae4724c07b444cbddbe6dc450"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Guidance</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance on the implementation of this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0b4b2bbec440493daf39d2a86f7b416f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>A landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title shall be implemented consistent with—</text><paragraph id="id07b5e33ddc434303822d66e2b7615d8a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the requirements for the project described in section 103(c); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3a938283b1e0476991bbb3023ae0516d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>all project commitments described in the 1 or more decisions or decision notices relating to the project. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id5ea83b82fb344f4ca552c976b6d7d938"><enum>106.</enum><header>Report evaluating implementation</header><subsection id="id400f1df79cfb4804a25776bb33d9f235"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the implementation of this title, including—</text><paragraph id="ide26a8dc27be04e899a26587a53cd8c0b"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a list of the landscape-scale forest restoration projects selected under section 103(a) and the accomplishments under those projects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idab32f98370904396bbf788be5b65fdca"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an evaluation of the approaches to project planning and implementation described in section 103(d)(3) based on the experience of the implementation of those approaches in the projects described in paragraph (1); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id393af0cf95304563990fa0f12ed9efd6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>an evaluation of the pilot authority for conservation finance agreements described in section 104, including whether that authority has—</text><subparagraph id="id879d0eb5c76940bfa09e4a157cb7020e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>increased the availability of non-Federal funding sources to assist in landscape-scale forest restoration projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8f0dc6787b034793899baf2d11f496e7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>promoted private or other non-Federal investment in—</text><clause id="id1448359759b24ee18b07852a92ebc87d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>new or existing infrastructure and related equipment that can make use of the byproducts of forest restoration;</text></clause><clause id="ida3be2e13438e492cbdb543898fcb3f57"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the use of prescribed fire at a greater scale;</text></clause><clause id="id67d50d1a086b4e74a0aa00d3c99363a1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>related economic development and workforce training and development;</text></clause><clause id="idb17acb630ab840bd91f4ac2d1bbd1680"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>land management activities enhancing natural infrastructure with benefits for downstream water users; or</text></clause><clause id="idbbcdc2b0c47f4deb86c3d88f7e868f73"><enum>(v)</enum><text>mitigating the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0c6ddeed45934610864be4b8e7e6b3c4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In preparing the report under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the advisory panel established under section 103(e).</text></subsection></section><section id="id95f6a310ce3d4d77bbe347a0f11b929b"><enum>107.</enum><header>Funding</header><subsection id="id77de9433694e428797344acb3183edee"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $250,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, to remain available until expended—</text><paragraph id="idd5f47e5671f24a23865929464c904e01"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to plan and develop potential landscape-scale forest restoration projects under this title that the Secretary and a collaborative group described in section 103(c)(1)(B) shall design—</text><subparagraph id="id62c38c55563c4461a76e25b90fffabc9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to meet the requirements of section 103(c); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9ae553786b4e4ce6915673c27b168c86"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to satisfy the criteria described in section 103(d)(2), to the maximum extent practicable; and </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcfef236f119e4f8b969c9e22de7914c3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects selected under section 103. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id634615645d22474e85d7ceaf1cbe35dc"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sources of funding</header><text>Landscape-scale forest restoration projects under this Act may be carried out using—</text><paragraph id="id4ba65db5d3164262bd4987d7eb193d5c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>amounts appropriated under subsection (a);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf6a7671b421d4d4cbc27bd6bbc436712"><enum>(2)</enum><text>other sources of Forest Service funding;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAE943080323C429387309FE73D16C98E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>other sources of Federal funding;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4069d73c65ac4b93950a19f98f2f79ce"><enum>(4)</enum><text>non-Federal funding sources; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e2e9bc207b94835bd7bf02ba7bd5e8c"><enum>(5)</enum><text>any combination of the amounts described in paragraphs (1) through (4).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0f252f6c78a9473ab7a246ea79aa4a00"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cost-share</header><paragraph id="id5508bb1ccf614865b4030e7362feb90e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Federal share</header><subparagraph id="id9FEAA7EAB0914FFEA17197A8678629D7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Planning and development</header><text>The Federal share of the cost of planning and developing a potential landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title shall not exceed 75 percent.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id47889F8B67824383BD9E63EA995382BE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Implementation and monitoring</header><text>The Federal share of the cost of carrying out and monitoring each landscape-scale forest restoration project on National Forest System land under this title shall not exceed 60 percent.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3aeec13c5d8640ab8b5c237800300ca0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Form of non-Federal share</header><text>The non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using funds made available pursuant to this title may include in-kind contributions. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb444bc03d685432faa571fd7f316c02b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Adaptive management</header><text>Not less than 5 percent of the amount made available for each landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title shall be used for monitoring and adaptive management in the applicable landscape.</text></subsection><subsection id="id83bd59965e09496ca401ed1364062b37"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Stewardship contracting</header><text>In the case of a landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title that is covered by an agreement or a contract under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>), the Secretary may use monies retained by the Secretary under subsection (e)(2)(A) of that section to plan, analyze, and implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects within the area covered by that agreement or contract consistent with this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="idcb161e7fdbad40b19f1ee27fa71dea37"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Administrative costs</header><text>Not more than 5 percent of any amounts appropriated to carry out this title may be used for administrative management and program oversight. </text></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Increasing Community Resilience to Wildfire</header><section id="id7f33a550aad8486094e050912b1267b0"><enum>201.</enum><header>Critical infrastructure and microgrid program</header><subsection id="id285BF3364EA24B328B38A7CA9B0B3F25"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id557116C654C94D0290C9065CFA39EA59"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Critical facility</header><subparagraph id="idC11E2FDA3FE84810AD615F3CA4C2A6CE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <quote>critical facility</quote> means a facility that provides services or may be used—</text><clause id="idB049B7AD27014C289CB49958251E5FF7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to save lives;</text></clause><clause id="idD8662D28ABA14AC4AF7279A7C1343B33"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to protect property, public health, and public safety; or</text></clause><clause id="id6D4FFC7E875F45F09A4C5EAE378D9FC9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF4D95B1BF27D47699FCCBB243CF54101"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The term <quote>critical facility</quote> includes—</text><clause id="id913398EE929149469CDA28A2BCEBDFC0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a hospital; </text></clause><clause id="idE3BCAB1E959F434EB6EE32DE35157ECC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an outpatient clinic; </text></clause><clause id="id4EA56A5256FD4384A2D8ED108131E8A5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a nursing home; </text></clause><clause id="idC34C15B48065402D80710F4EC95ADF15"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a police station; </text></clause><clause id="id951915BB53C1482680B218925D409A52"><enum>(v)</enum><text>an emergency operation center;</text></clause><clause id="id2832B7340D0B4B5699F1D117686C20D0"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>a jail or prison;</text></clause><clause id="id6FBA89B42378429789A102DE7C2B8124"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>a fire station; </text></clause><clause id="id4F040B8766A047B9A36855E15960241E"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>a facility in the communications sector, as determined by the Secretary;</text></clause><clause id="idE6FF1BE79B424798BCE35081A3B1E811"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>a facility in the chemical sector, as determined by the Secretary;</text></clause><clause id="id8a8ab2312ee14b03980fc02cb8c5e52a"><enum>(x)</enum><text>a school or other large building that may serve as a temporary gathering space; </text></clause><clause id="idFAA7531651D6468F9B430EA2AC56EB31"><enum>(xi)</enum><text>a utility station, such as a water and wastewater station;</text></clause><clause id="idC7721C9B316D452CADC4A6921F7998D9"><enum>(xii)</enum><text>a facility described in subparagraph (A) that is owned or operated by, or provides services to, an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>));</text></clause><clause id="id4ad88384e7f346f1a0fdea7c07bedb84"><enum>(xiii)</enum><text>a Federal facility, including a military base or installation; and</text></clause><clause id="id353a2c5e48054154b4ffb99dc947709b"><enum>(xiv)</enum><text>any other facility described in subparagraph (A), as determined by the Secretary. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id60101899AAB74FE5984CF529858AA451"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <quote>Secretary</quote> means the Secretary of Energy.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7DF7048AA148476BAD8F28D6AD5A725C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Critical infrastructure and microgrid program</header><paragraph id="idD758A5615C2F483CB0E2222029FE6127"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a program—</text><subparagraph id="id2961B10B00A9479FA84D8940038055F0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to improve the energy resilience and power needs of critical facilities through the use of microgrids, renewable energy, energy efficiency, reduced electricity demand, and on-site storage;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCA1A9717104C4278B21573F379F5F5CE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to improve the energy efficiency of critical facilities by decreasing the size and cost of generators;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a5d04283c554106adec229464dcf3fb"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance and facilitate the distribution and sharing of information to develop more resilient electricity systems (including bulk systems and localized systems); and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id15A7AAE7D0CC4845BA009752146024D2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to promulgate consumer-facing information and resources to inform the public on best practices and resources related to increasing resilience of electricity systems and reducing the impacts of extreme weather events on electricity systems. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id022d986c0bc64572b128fb08f4d7ecfc"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure, with respect to critical facilities—</text><subparagraph id="id759DC14F8941483D88F79AB8FF995C17"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provision of on-site back-up power with renewable resources, low-carbon liquid fuels, and on-site energy storage technologies; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id53DA335E72FD43469B24635C0C0EE0A6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>installation, at the transmission and distribution level, of interoperable technologies, advanced power flow control, dynamic line rating, topology optimization, and communications systems. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2ac0567b5ce948dd8662ba9e741e6381"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Interested party input</header><text>In establishing the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek the input of State energy regulators, electric utilities (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/796">16 U.S.C. 796</external-xref>)), regional transmission organizations and independent system operators, electric utility customers and ratepayer organizations, local governments, community choice aggregators or regional energy collaboratives, and other interested parties. </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id97cd12c97dde406fbcf99ac056f245b1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5254248E2E1E41CCA1A75EF6C8E73611"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $100,000,000 to carry out this section, to remain available until expended.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5a89a676d58e40029cd2c9129311b942"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative costs</header><text>Of the amount used to carry out this section, not more than 10 percent shall be used for salaries and expenses, administrative management, and oversight of the program established under subsection (b)(1). </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3A3B579719924015A0CAB60D587ECD3D"><enum>202.</enum><header>Retrofits for fire-resilient communities</header><subsection id="idd17055aed8774eb492078e31b59e7214"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of weatherization materials</header><text>Section 412(9) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/6862">42 U.S.C. 6862(9)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idFC9494DEC1D143BAB31993F1F947413E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (I), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC19F147CB045447FBDBA526D95EC1098"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idEB371A505A164BFDB52DAD98F716FA76"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF54D0A46E3614B28A557212FC63B7FBB"><subparagraph id="id5F2A98C1A4144E27903A8DC572C4ED2D"><enum>(J)</enum><text>materials that are resistant to high heat and fire; and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1d38ea85c3d74b29852319e55ef4f216"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Weatherization program</header><paragraph id="id08FB1BE0BD97464CB493030EE63837FD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 413(b)(6) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/6863">42 U.S.C. 6863(b)(6)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id517687842ED64EB0A428B56F81F90B61"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id907C79A38BFE4635B481E24447E4F46C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAD1447D25BB44E449691C43DB86D8095"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id265856F20C36451BBAC9AE768687285E"><subparagraph id="idCB7C416A277C40418E98FCAB94EDDD5F"><enum>(E)</enum><text>owners of such dwelling units shall use fire- and drought-resistant building materials and incorporate wildfire and drought prevention and mitigation planning, as directed by the State.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3f684a8c939d426aa2ffcb5e8811e6a0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitations</header><text>Section 415(c) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/6865">42 U.S.C. 6865(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="idB8D12E496D554F1EAAAD5B6E8024A1F5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><clause id="idBDBE706F685F4A32873706FD51C21AA1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></clause><clause id="id17472E45A3F54A069D7E1068DE2CB897"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), in the second sentence, by striking <quote>Labor</quote> and all that follows through <quote>to—</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC346BBD4A70C45529DF32E125E101601"><subparagraph id="idC2F5F6F16B394B309E469E4C2450706E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Labor and weatherization materials</header><text>Labor, weatherization materials, and related matter described in subparagraph (A) includes—</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="idA129499348FE4920B10A4266FC81E311"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(c)(1) Except</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9F2B7BB40BF54ABC8F6B235E0DC22A8A"><subsection id="id98BC9B246CCE4BE3A7C5BC7E133AA291"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Financial assistance</header><paragraph id="id099FF7CE7E9C4E59AA5B887DFC1EFBA2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Average cost</header><subparagraph id="id711A0F8F49EB49B0804BBE27F6AA2675"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="idC60F2CE0AEBA4066BEE10B1B01B7CD22"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)—</text><subclause id="idFD503D15B62F4512A3FA7B415E2D7606"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>exceed an average of $6,500</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idD2FAFCB43A7740D898BEB82229B2FF83"><text>exceed—</text><clause id="id212E95174B7E4C0098368A64B345C5D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an average of $13,000 (adjusted annually for inflation)</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="idC7B53E2746D8448D89B881D19757BF7D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idB46C48A5596A4FE7BC7E8A66AF48A0A3"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA75E2F0B9DC74258B3FA038D81D20767"><clause id="idEF3FFB5C959246B6A24BEEE518C2F9C4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>another average amount that is greater than the amount described in clause (i), if the Secretary determines it necessary to waive or adjust the average amount established under that clause.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="idBF2AA440A7E14FD5B6ACB1684A637527"><enum>(v)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B) (as so designated)—</text><subclause id="id4489548AAFFF4C33AF29914625E8868C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (iv) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>, and</quote> and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id00B19A71C7244A1D8B3778B081BC7696"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in clause (v) (as so redesignated), by adding a period at the end; and</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id797ea3aa5a754b8f96683cb101e117e0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>$3,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$6,000 (adjusted annually for inflation)</quote>. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id839AD0B4F504423087FEB8F9D928A1C0"><enum>203.</enum><header>Hazard mitigation using disaster assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 404(f)(12) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5170c">42 U.S.C. 5170c(f)(12)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id254181D0B2714F598F918F343A323231"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>and wildfire</quote> after <quote>windstorm</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id8AA99F0505024A20BF7F9B3C1057FDC8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>including replacing</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3C2C862E0E8C474ABCF368CDCD8A1A02"><text>including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idB49D5C8262604A7A975F421CA500F1F7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>replacing</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idF5D591EAD26540D896AB6B7938D6C5A8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id98E8BC13BF2A4F238F1C346D8273EEC0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, wildfire,</quote> after <quote>extreme wind</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idCA88CC4BEAE4477587E324E45CDC641A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the end; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id49A23AD48283482B968DA7EB6073C1D8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3B85C5E1D60C4F5295CC04C093DAD3D9"><subparagraph commented="no" id="id96B56A4410DC453F816F87591CCBB6B8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the installation of fire-resistant wires and infrastructure and the undergrounding of wires;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section commented="no" id="id584D50D6FB0041739D7275A801482A27"><enum>204.</enum><header>Wildfire detection equipment</header><subsection commented="no" id="idB3E7AAA364A141118408985EEDB8B56B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title VI of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591">16 U.S.C. 6591</external-xref> et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id10F9C7CB84B5435C8A9856A5F5845CBF"><section commented="no" id="iddf473f87ea15424b9385ba609516b416"><enum>607.</enum><header>Wildfire detection equipment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To the extent practicable, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id9E2DD33989984D098D8080FDAF5CD0B2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in areas at risk of wildfire;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idebeb2f8bdf874f98bf5c23b52489da85"><enum>(2)</enum><text>expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id5839EB2E22424FF4A2904D0F252B3A3A"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expedite any permitting required by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior for the installation, maintenance, or removal of wildfire detection equipment.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id008466A37F7543BCB9E2064420AF4015"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents for the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6501">16 U.S.C. 6501</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/148">Public Law 108–148</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title VI the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id18E39487BFFC43BB826BD420D5F68F8E"><toc><toc-entry level="section">Sec. 607. Wildfire detection equipment.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Research, Training, and Capacity Building</header><section id="id0A498BDF05114626A21CBB7D14243E24"><enum>301.</enum><header>Western prescribed fire centers</header><subsection id="id0b430a02c8714e559f995ca0989f33cd"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the <term>Secretaries</term>) shall establish 1 or more centers to train individuals in prescribed fire methods and other methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk (referred to in this section as a <term>center</term>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id82EC61B3073C4F59B179068B8B373975"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Host institutions</header><text>The 1 or more centers shall be—</text><paragraph id="id05214495BA1E4951A1F2FBDA54008194"><enum>(1)</enum><text>located at 1 or more institutions of higher education; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id66CEF9D506094E348E6D37113C7B7249"><enum>(2)</enum><text>developed in collaboration with 1 or more institutions of higher education.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id74418D5F03BB4D73810321C424BA6670"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Goals</header><text>The 1 or more centers shall advance the following goals:</text><paragraph id="idb44b0a2b486649fa8c47e210bdc59b43"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Training individuals and conducting research on prescribed fire methods and other restoration methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida630f670b051475b964a02caea80aed8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Developing and advancing interdisciplinary science relating to wildfire, including social science and human dimensions of wildfire, in consultation with stakeholders who—</text><subparagraph id="idFF7148F9210F4A9FB97670B6DF9B3FF5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>need that science;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id27C273C954294215A4F1E5B950B49374"><enum>(B)</enum><text>will benefit from the outcomes of that science; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5D990EF739284D7B811716C43641D54E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>will coordinate with 1 or more other centers in developing and advancing that science.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id705839fe96be45998c068d7f41438b71"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Conducting ongoing and forward-looking needs assessments among stakeholders, including Federal and State agencies and Indian Tribes, to determine common need requirements and emerging challenges to reduce wildfire risk and adapt communities to increased risk from wildfire, including the following hazard-related focus areas: </text><subparagraph id="id96578671094747A89F4BB1157667748A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Increasing disaster resilience.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id456E4D9EBAD64CEDB1F1C24A52ADB2DB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Mitigation and management methods.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0AA78FAAC2DE4958943A4BB52B3FC7C5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Air quality.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79B9B3305E4C4E18B264DE9A74877210"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Firestorm weather forecasting and burn-area debris flow forecasting, including empirical and modeling research.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idff2e1981464f484898770a8e3e0098fd"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Collaborating with Federal wildfire scientists at the Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and other related agencies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id154f9050bdef41b7a1441da63143dd01"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Identifying, through a detailed engagement process targeting defined end-users, the requirements and delivery mechanisms for products and services that are practical and will have an impact on mitigating wildfire risk.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id750289390ed74f51b4036e75114b1ded"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Promoting technology transfer with pathways for dissemination, implementation, and application of research results on the ground, using and enhancing previous research.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id19bde87d3dd647a4bc554dc7badbaf46"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Ensuring the connectivity and interoperability of distributed services to maximize synergies and benefits across services.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0b90328d35b34d6baece85a92889db14"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Developing open digital infrastructure to make research data, science, and models open for all sectors to use.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id94a1c8b8d882422cab3eefb626aed67c"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Location</header><paragraph id="id4B6BABC9A7C145C182098A24E33D9118"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The 1 or more centers shall be located in any State the entirety of which is located west of the 100th meridian.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idae164a708c814709a2e9d64ab14d2b3a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The Secretaries shall consult with the Joint Fire Science Program to solicit and evaluate proposals for the location of the 1 or more centers.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE89DFF3762A242C38273C541026FD4AA" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Selection</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, based on the consultation under paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall select a location for the 1 or more centers.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idA424938E3D6640A68001CACA2B43FF10"><enum>302.</enum><header>Innovative forest workforce development program</header><subsection id="id13558bd94c52443c8be7ce7c1e4b5886"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idDE02663AF3E34A6FBBD02D24308678F0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Career in forestry and fire management</header><text>The term <term>career in forestry and fire management</term> means a career in a field relating to forests and the restoration to the natural fire regimes of forests, including—</text><subparagraph id="id6FFAFEBD1FF64AE089F3004DF33F6F56"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in timber operations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id168F53AA0D8E4102B741B973ED0529CC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>as a registered professional forester;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id923FA2B5207C4A178DB0D12D8B21D945"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in vegetation treatment, including as a member of a hand crew, a machine operator, and in conducting prescribed fires as part of a fire restoration workforce that is capable of conducting large landscape restorative and maintenance prescribed fires;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE6407A2ECCCF463E9933F83054698B4A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in ecological restoration, including restoration of watersheds;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id25271ECF97614C24B6CAFF09F8005437"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in wildland fire fighting; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8095A699E6524EFDBEA61FCF455DCB11"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in community fire resilience, including workforce development projects.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1E5836E5938C4D0DA7A4015F8B1C09EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Forestry and fire management</header><text>The term <term>forestry and fire management</term> includes the areas of fields relating to forests described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2A7FD1D009F040B5B155ACA89CEA524B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="iddacc50db523d4279a7bc3f64ecb5bddb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grants authorized</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program—</text><paragraph id="id95267f6139044f43879651a692994537"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development in forestry and fire management and opportunities for careers in forestry and fire management; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbe1c2f27d68148fa80a43f1d31ae1fb1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to expand public awareness about forestry and fire management and connect individuals to careers in forestry and fire management.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida8499654b0a1494aaac8aa506156627e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Selection of grant recipients</header><text>In awarding grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, select nonprofit professional or service organizations, labor organizations, State agencies, community colleges, institutions of higher education, or other training and educational institutions—</text><paragraph id="id447247ab1fd747c28caf09bd13fd353e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>that have qualifications and experience—</text><subparagraph id="idc1da6020a3ad4d0aaa17a0d53c3d543a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the development of training programs and curricula relevant to the workforce needs of forestry and fire management;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idab2f56b7296442b7b7fc0ea20cb0043e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>working in cooperation with forestry and fire management; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf8f33cea1ee0457fb858c087408dc3c7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>developing public education materials appropriate for communicating with groups of various ages and educational backgrounds; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9929dd10aae5437e9e0e6cc53f103f5d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that will address the human resources and workforce needs of forestry and fire management.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd782af43ab1b4eddaf2ea6056ff1a3b5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>Grants awarded under subsection (b) may be used for activities such as—</text><paragraph id="id750a0acffc7940d5aded65cd4eff0aba"><enum>(1)</enum><text>targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for skilled forestry and fire management trades that provide—</text><subparagraph id="idfe934845c69041a3b7cd1afc46788b96"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on-the-job training;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58dc14e2b468497593b7c339c858be92"><enum>(B)</enum><text>skills development;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id089e153682f1468d8023b3a1dccec038"><enum>(C)</enum><text>test preparation for skilled trade apprenticeships;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87e879a6d09342d0ba262b50de03fb7b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>advance training in forestry and fire management relating to jobs as forest restorationists, members of hand crews, wildland fire fighters, machine operators, licensed timber operators, registered professional foresters, ecologists, biologists, or workers in construction in support of resilient infrastructure, including residential buildings; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5b560484cf944a909aa6b63679141ec7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>other support services to facilitate post-secondary success;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddc6bdfb6fc424cff9ac834855b366d0f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>education programs designed for elementary, secondary, and higher education students that—</text><subparagraph id="idec1ab921cd3c400a8af667bc4d4e13bd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>inform people about the role of forestry, vegetation management, and ecological restoration in the communities of those people;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id235f9a7192bc4a58952d59a7cb168c02"><enum>(B)</enum><text>increase the awareness of opportunities for careers in forestry and fire management and exposure of students to those careers through various work-based learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc040026b44774d5899c5974a70d0d8f8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>connect students to pathways to careers in forestry and fire management;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc4d8a7baaa664a0193b0c3c5d38858e4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the development of a model curriculum and related vocational programs to be adopted by community colleges, which, to the extent practicable and feasible, shall—</text><subparagraph id="ida9a52b6f9955443e8759162e33d71f45"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide professional training in implementing prescribed fire projects, including the knowledge and skills necessary to plan and implement broad-scale surface and ladder fuel treatments within the wildland-urban interface, wildlands, and urbanized areas, as appropriate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3efc16e423dd49729defd10b3f5c86cd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>include a focus on the ecological concerns, economics, and practices necessary to improve community safety and forest resilience; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id29fdf6a9f0fb43c38d1395aa0aa2ab25"><enum>(C)</enum><text>train students in—</text><clause id="idE08ACB761C7B4B3485AFB81BEDB32A3F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the retrofitting of houses, including the use of fire-resistant materials and the maintenance of defensible space;</text></clause><clause id="id26ea73ece51c4e5d906db021a5bb339c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>urban forestry; and</text></clause><clause id="idce4f18b922f04380bc7246ec30c490cd"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>policies or guidance relating to the management of vegetation near utility infrastructure and relevant portions of electric utility wildfire mitigation plans;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id32c83f8e98f045af9dab07331cc839d0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>regional industry and workforce development collaborations, including the coordination of candidate development, particularly in areas of high unemployment;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id540c79d8dfe54fb282759ca883ec594a"><enum>(5)</enum><text>integrated learning laboratories in secondary educational institutions that provide students with—</text><subparagraph id="id5bc83069d1b642c79b5286040c991097"><enum>(A)</enum><text>hands-on, contextualized learning opportunities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd6b7988cf79446d5b3150965236f619d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>dual enrollment credit for post-secondary education and training programs; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb38ce347e4b04e3d82e577e54c69be0d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>direct connection to industry or government employers; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id70f446cbb0764e438425f85271fd2f3a"><enum>(6)</enum><text>leadership development, occupational training, mentoring, or cross-training programs that ensure that workers are prepared for high-level supervisory or management-level positions.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id00b0461c5b3341eb90fb849b5a7d779e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such sums as are necessary. </text></subsection></section><section id="id00c837593e944fee96680e24021e4a34"><enum>303.</enum><header>National community capacity and land stewardship grant program</header><subsection id="ida7ccb59133134c00a1b20a44c6adb349"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="ide1df738a95794070b953bfda89e3614e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Community capacity</header><text>The term <term>community capacity</term> means the ability of an eligible entity to carry out or assist in a land stewardship activity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb1a0785e34b34b66918c0feadca2872f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Disadvantaged community</header><text>The term <term>disadvantaged community</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id851764eac5554ee4943acdbbd7b83cb0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a low-income community (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/45D">section 45D(e)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2db5a4d9dac843cebe738e40b576d493"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a community that includes a significant population that has been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life based on a particular characteristic, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Native American persons, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idaef5c3b87e5649c39e4e89f61d83eae3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means any the following entities that is located in or represents a disadvantaged community:</text><subparagraph id="id04f3a2ac34774016a33efbb09de7f8f3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An organization described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/501">section 501(c)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDBA09CD6F9AB4A0BA2E676ECF002F674"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A collaborative group fiscally sponsored by an organization described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd143f076d9154abf8ab35f6a0fbffc95"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A unit of local government.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6d8b5b5ffda04139ae703d24965018e8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>An Indian Tribe.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3546fe090a8a4a21b18605d430df7a2b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A special district government, as defined by the Director of the Bureau of the Census.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id11901030b8544c6c92f0b52045252df8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Ecological integrity</header><text>The term <term>ecological integrity</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id18030732AF774A368D512CA06235DDE2"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Indian Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2866fe5cb8a7439ea0689f7ff27f64ed"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Land stewardship activity</header><text>The term <term>land stewardship activity</term> means any of the following activities, as applied to a qualifying project:</text><subparagraph id="id12d793325256466e963496f145afa9d2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Planning.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id083a4ba82d2747b2bd38fdc5912a8039"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Collaboration and building community support.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id98cbcfc5f21043848ba4edcbd51aa637"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Implementation on land other than National Forest System land.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf62e0b0275f749df9b169c69615edc80"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Monitoring, including multiparty monitoring, and adaptive management.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbd884b9f7b6c42b4b436d377800469b0"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Qualifying project</header><text>The term <term>qualifying project</term> means any of the following activities that takes place at least in substantial part on National Forest System land or national grasslands:</text><subparagraph id="idca610227b3584da597b54a2f0186de4e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Restoration of the ecological integrity of a forest, meadow, grassland, prairie, or other habitat.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3372a2f9b19840eb91042192537589a1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Tribal management for aligned cultural and ecological values.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id110d543cdfd64ef8a662fffedce8c775"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Enhancing community wildfire resilience in the wildland-urban interface.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf9480b4f84314620ade25048941470c2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Increasing equitable access to environmental education and volunteerism opportunities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf6a45d1477c04f45a48a78b8b8097c8c"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Restoration</header><text>The term <term>restoration</term> has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0CF5149BF44243A49BC82534F0337D69"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through—</text><subparagraph id="id09E00EB8B5C04E1F9A286D8D9ED02A7A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the regional offices of the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44D379B2F76F4045AFF393B3A12A84CA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>as appropriate, regional offices of other Deputy Areas of the Forest Service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0e5f5f968486449ebd6a7bcb20732851"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The purpose of this section is to support increasing community capacity, partnerships, and collaborations within and involving disadvantaged communities for land stewardship activities and restoration of ecological integrity on—</text><paragraph id="id8761E2197FC44AD9B943AE9B745DF012"><enum>(1)</enum><text>National Forest System land;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8F284FAA6D4944F186E57AE794D78B41"><enum>(2)</enum><text>national grasslands; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="idF17C65D6AA5840B1A3868B1F5CBA74AA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>adjacent private, State, and trust land associated with the health and resilience of land described in paragraphs (1) and (2).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida0c7a43e280643bd9c91c23456cf134b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administration</header><paragraph id="idbf760c451ec44aa9a177aac494df8f78"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may issue grants to eligible entities for increasing community capacity for land stewardship activities and related activities based on the criteria described in subsection (d).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf4fd180daa134c9ca5b3c0f506d739a6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal cost-share</header><subparagraph id="idE32EEBCDEEE8428EBA5FC133F6F55448"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may fund up to 100 percent of the cost of land stewardship activities and related activities carried out using a grant issued under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7FAE7C49F68B4AE18B18FF5351F58A14" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Matching eligibility</header><text>A grant issued under this section may be considered a non-Federal matching contribution from the eligible entity that received the grant towards other sources of Federal funding.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id822631ED14124C39A9A2EF02B1E687C4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>The Secretary may issue a grant under paragraph (1) for a period of 1 or more years.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide1b47f07d998443fa7825debd766ac44"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Maximum grant amount</header><text>The amount of a grant issued under paragraph (1) shall be not more than $50,000 per year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id06364ee0c86b47cfb1a86b58ce5f00d7"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Applicable laws</header><text>The Secretary shall administer grants under paragraph (1) in accordance with all applicable Federal and State laws.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb78492a486044428827372eb71d9cd6f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for awarding grants</header><paragraph id="id5C0FDD10016146608A2A1DB9BA05F171"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities under subsection (c)(1) on a competitive basis in accordance with the following criteria:</text><subparagraph id="id22edf8a378fb41bf901e1bbcb6089696"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The extent to which the proposed land stewardship activities benefit units of the National Forest System and national grasslands over the short and long term.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id451aabe391f74bb4a1ff4dc014ede301"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The extent to which valuable ecological, economic, and social benefits to disadvantaged communities, including job creation and business development or retention, are likely to result from the scope of the land stewardship activities.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide94501860e1a49fb9e574c30bcfca72d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The extent to which the grant would benefit disadvantaged communities that have historically received less investment in collaborative capacity.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8ad078e97da94981873e21baa658f014"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The extent to which the proposal brings together diverse interests through planning, collaboration, implementation, or monitoring of land stewardship activities to benefit units of the National Forest System or national grasslands.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2b4e418e7dd648f7be9f024e2978fcdd"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The extent to which the grant funds appear to be critical for the success of the eligible entity and the identified land stewardship activities.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8b094c26e3884b83916dad0666887017"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The extent to which the budget for the land stewardship activities is reasonable given the anticipated outcomes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id19DB28EF52F24418808745FC742A262A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Set-aside for Indian Tribes</header><text>The Secretary shall allocate not less than 10 percent of the funding awarded under this section to Indian Tribes or eligible entities representing Indian Tribes.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcc5eefb9c6094697acfccc62250a560a"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual reviews</header><paragraph id="idcf18cc12cefb474bafcacb4392d7c1b8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and maintain an advisory panel composed of not more than 15 members to provide feedback each year to each regional office of the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service on the extent to which the implementation of this section by the regional office is fulfilling the purpose described in subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id083f1d1d97f744e3bdef7967982fc898"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The advisory panel established under paragraph (1) shall include representation from a diversity of public land stakeholders from across interest groups, including—</text><subparagraph id="id2B0E81482E1B43EC9D142C0AEDA377C5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not fewer than 8 members representing the interests of a diversity of disadvantaged communities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2D273284866F442082F06853412B4611"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not fewer than 2 members representing not fewer than 2 Indian Tribes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc14b176a08bf488483ce7a370486d2af"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Exemption</header><text>The advisory panel established under paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7242c91eae674dd3adb03eeb415fdc77"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Report evaluating program implementation</header><paragraph id="idcdc6bbd8f53642c999d22d6b33263d53"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the implementation of this section, including—</text><subparagraph id="id8f265bba555648edb430ae77e962a8dd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a list of the eligible entities and land stewardship activities selected for funding under this section and the accomplishments of those activities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0fdab19db29b417e86d19469fc88edc1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an evaluation of the extent to which the implementation of this section is fulfilling the purpose described in subsection (b).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7e2176b20e6f448cab17ede52abe4b6d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Consultation; contracting</header><text>In preparing the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary—</text><subparagraph id="idA28319717A664C92A2D7F812D4B5583A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall consult with the advisory panel established under subsection (e)(1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idddc88b4ad9ec455e984e9a1e2b24e22c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may contract with a third party to complete an evaluation of the implementation of this section to inform the report. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id45575b2c886448bd861af32491ff5556"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><paragraph id="id611736b397ef4a92946fefaa59156d5d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd9d9f9a625fc42fb9ef0573821d5702f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Distribution</header><text>The Secretary shall distribute amounts made available under paragraph (1) to the regional offices of the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area and, as appropriate, regional offices of other Deputy Areas, of the Forest Service to administer the grants under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideab723a675ea4421ab56eb343e4f1552"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Administrative costs</header><text>Not more than 10 percent of any amounts made available to carry out this section may be used for administrative management and program oversight. </text></paragraph></subsection></section>