Alternative dispute resolution pilot program

(a)

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Arbitrator

The term arbitrator means a person—(A)selected by the Secretary under subsection (d)(1); and(B)that meets the qualifications under subsection (d)(2).(2)

Land and resource management plan

The term land and resource management plan means a plan developed under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).(3)

Participant

The term participant means an individual or entity that, with respect to a project—(A)has exhausted the administrative review process under part 218 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); or(B)in the case of a project that is categorically excluded for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), has participated in a collaborative process under clause (i) or (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A).(4)

Pilot program

The term pilot program means the pilot program implemented under subsection (b)(1).(5)

Project

The term project means a project described in subsection (c).(6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.(b)

Arbitration pilot program

(1)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final rule to implement an arbitration pilot program, to be carried out in the States of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, as an alternative dispute resolution in lieu of judicial review for projects described in subsection (c).(2)

Limitation on number of projects

(A)

In general

The Secretary may not designate for arbitration under the pilot program more than 2 projects per calendar year.(B)

Exception

If the Secretary designates a project for arbitration under the pilot program, and no participant initiates arbitration under subsection (e)(2), that project shall not count against the limitation on the number of projects under subparagraph (A).(3)

Applicable process

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the pilot program shall be carried out in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code.(4)

Exclusive means of review

The alternative dispute resolution process under the pilot program for a project designated for arbitration under the pilot program shall be the exclusive means of review for the project.(5)

No judicial review

A project that the Secretary has designated for arbitration under the pilot program shall not be subject to judicial review.(c)

Description of projects

(1)

In general

The Secretary, at the sole discretion of the Secretary, may designate for arbitration projects that—(A)(i)are developed through a collaborative process (within the meaning of section 603(b)(1)(C) of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(b)(1)(C)));(ii)are carried out under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program established under section 4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303); or(iii)are identified in a community wildfire protection plan (as defined in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511));(B)have as a purpose—(i)reducing hazardous fuels; or(ii)reducing the risk of, or mitigating, insect or disease infestation; and(C)are located, in whole or in part, in a wildland-urban interface (as defined in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511)).(2)

Inclusion

In designating projects for arbitration, the Secretary may include projects that are categorically excluded for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).(d)

Arbitrators

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall develop and publish a list of not fewer than 15 individuals eligible to serve as arbitrators for the pilot program.(2)

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve as an arbitrator under this subsection, an individual shall be—(A)recognized by—(i)the American Arbitration Association; or(ii)a State arbitration program; or(B)a fully retired Federal or State judge.(e)

Initiation of arbitration

(1)

In general

Not later than 7 days after the date on which the Secretary issues the applicable decision notice or decision memo with respect to a project, the Secretary shall—(A)notify each applicable participant and the Clerk of the United States District Court for the district in which the project is located that the project has been designated for arbitration under the pilot program; and(B)include in the applicable decision notice or decision memo a statement that the project has been designated for arbitration.(2)

Initiation

(A)

In general

A participant that has received a notification under paragraph (1) and is seeking to initiate arbitration for the applicable project under the pilot program shall file a request for arbitration with the Secretary not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of the notification.(B)

Requirement

The request under subparagraph (A) shall include an alternative proposal for the applicable project that—(i)describes each modification sought by the participant with respect to the project; and(ii)is consistent with the goals and objectives of the applicable land and resource management plan, all applicable laws, regulations, legal precedent and policy directives, and the purpose and need for the project.(C)

Failure to meet requirements

A participant who fails to meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be considered to have forfeited their standing to initiate arbitration under this paragraph.(3)

Compelled arbitration

(A)

In general

For any request for judicial review with respect to a project that the Secretary has designated for arbitration under the pilot program—(i)the Secretary shall file in the applicable court a motion to compel arbitration in accordance with this Act; and(ii)the applicable court shall compel arbitration in accordance with this Act.(B)

Fees and costs

For any motion described in subparagraph (A) for which the Secretary is the prevailing party, the applicable court shall award to the Secretary—(i)full or partial court costs; and(ii)full or partial attorney's fees.(f)

Selection of arbitrator

For each arbitration initiated under this Act—(1)each applicable participant shall propose 2 arbitrators; and(2)the Secretary shall select 1 arbitrator from the list of arbitrators proposed under paragraph (1).(g)

Responsibilities of arbitrator

(1)

In general

An arbitrator—(A)shall address all claims or modifications sought by each party seeking arbitration with respect to a project under this Act; but(B)may consolidate into a single arbitration all requests to initiate arbitration by all participants with respect to a project.(2)

Consideration of proposed projects and decision

For each project for which arbitration has been initiated under this Act, the arbitrator shall make a decision with respect to the project by—(A)selecting the project, as approved by the Secretary;(B)selecting the alternative proposal submitted by the applicable participant in the request for initiation of arbitration for the project filed under subsection (e)(2)(A); or(C)rejecting both options described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).(3)

Convene hearings

In carrying out paragraph (2), the arbitrator may convene the Secretary and the participant, including by telephone conference or other electronic means to consider—(A)the administrative record;(B)arguments and evidence submitted by the Secretary and the participant;(C)the project, as approved by the Secretary; and(D)the alternative proposal submitted by the applicable participant in the request for initiation of arbitration for the project filed under subsection (e)(2)(A).(4)

Limitations

An arbitrator may not modify any project or alternative proposal contained in a request for initiation of arbitration of a participant under this Act.(h)

Intervention

A party may intervene in an arbitration under this Act if, with respect to the project to which the arbitration relates, the party—(1)meets the requirements of Rule 24(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (or a successor rule); or(2)participated in the applicable collaborative process referred to in clause (i) or (ii) of subsection (c)(1)(A).(i)

Scope of review

In carrying out arbitration for a project, the arbitrator shall set aside the agency action, findings, and conclusions found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law, within the meaning of section 706(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code.(j)

Deadline for completion of arbitration

Not later than 90 days after the date on which arbitration is initiated for a project under the pilot program, the arbitrator shall make a decision with respect to all claims or modifications sought by the participant that initiated the arbitration.(k)

Effect of arbitration decision

A decision of an arbitrator under this Act—(1)shall not be considered to be a major Federal action;(2)shall be binding; and(3)shall not be subject to judicial review, except as provided in section 10(a) of title 9, United States Code.(l)

Administrative costs

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall—(A)be solely responsible for the professional fees of arbitrators participating in the pilot program; and(B)use funds made available to the Secretary and not otherwise obligated to carry out subparagraph (A).(2)

Travel costs

The Secretary—(A)shall be solely responsible for reasonable travel costs associated with the participation of an arbitrator in any meeting conducted under subsection (g)(3); and(B)shall not be responsible for the travel costs of a participant under subsection (g)(3).(3)

Attorney's fees

No arbitrator may award attorney’s fees in any arbitration brought under this Act.(m)

Reports

(1)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Secretary issues a final rule to implement the pilot program under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and publish on the website of the Forest Service, a report describing the implementation of the pilot program, including—(A)the reasons for selecting certain projects for arbitration;(B)an evaluation of the arbitration process, including any recommendations for improvements to the process;(C)a description of the outcome of each arbitration; and(D)a summary of the impacts of each outcome described in subparagraph (C) on the timeline for implementation and completion of the applicable project.(2)

GAO reviews and reports

(A)

Review on termination

On termination of the pilot program under subsection (n), the Comptroller General of the United States shall review the implementation by the Secretary of the pilot program, including—(i)the reasons for selecting certain projects for arbitration under the pilot program;(ii)the location and types of projects that were arbitrated under the pilot program;(iii)a description of the outcomes of the projects that were arbitrated under the pilot program;(iv)a description of the participants who initiated arbitration under the pilot program;(v)a description and survey of the arbitrators who participated in the pilot program;(vi)the type and outcome of any requests for judicial review with respect to a project that the Secretary designated for arbitration under the pilot program; and(vii)any other items the Comptroller General of the United States may find applicable for evaluating the pilot program.(B)

Report

After completion of the review described in subparagraph (A) and not later than 1 year after termination of the pilot program under subsection (n), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report, describing the results of the applicable review.(n)

Termination

The Secretary may not designate a project for arbitration under the pilot program on or after the date that is 5 years after the date on which the Secretary issues a final rule to implement the pilot program under subsection (b)(1).(o)

Effect

Nothing in this Act affects the responsibility of the Secretary to comply with—(1)the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);(2)the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or(3)other applicable laws.