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<dc:title>115 S4904 IS: Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2022</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. Senate</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2022-09-21</dc:date>
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<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
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<distribution-code display="yes">II</distribution-code><congress>117th CONGRESS</congress><session>2d Session</session><legis-num>S. 4904</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES</current-chamber><action><action-date date="20220921">September 21, 2022</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="S317">Mr. Barrasso</sponsor> (for himself and <cosponsor name-id="S338">Mr. Manchin</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the <committee-name committee-id="SSEG00">Committee on Energy and Natural Resources</committee-name></action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title>To address the forest health crisis on the National Forest System and public lands, and for other purposes.</official-title></form><legis-body><section id="S1" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title; table of contents</header><subsection id="idB2F87BF5F8724BE5B42034912657B4EF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2022</short-title></quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1E4464FDBF454D74A0F2E0F122A776A6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>The table of contents for this Act is as follows:</text><toc><toc-entry level="section" idref="S1">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id1882c3d275914f0d94f3fe73140e6a8a">Sec. 2. Definitions.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="idF5CD13D30ED240D68F348CECDECD403E">TITLE I—Accomplishments Over Rhetoric</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idc670f485ba204073ac8b9fa5a5106681">Sec. 101. Thinning targets.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idcbc5032b09634348ab07e91c662210bc">Sec. 102. Annual reports.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idafc641646f984f47910a45ca7aac3db5">Sec. 103. Transparency in fire mitigation reporting.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idD4701168D43E42428A1E6391C9E9F391">Sec. 104. Regional forest carbon accounting.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" bold="off">Sec. 105. Targets for wildlife habitat improvement.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="idDB6C57BEA3994454BCC523C3C3EBDD17">TITLE II—Forest Management</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idf355806f74194472972764e539aaaca2">Sec. 201. Land and resource management plans.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id8d47766a3de342a8b5f8d6958f0e88c4">Sec. 202. Management of old growth and mature forests.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id9ea8abea1127430091b3378fe06dbc8e">Sec. 203. Assessment of processed-based restoration techniques.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id89dc7915245143c78b33337664aa5893">Sec. 204. Intervenor status.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id1ee6a9947fd84cff877616385484290e">Sec. 205. Utilizing grazing for wildfire prevention.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="idD68751241B864B69B03DEE7BDA294CC0">TITLE III—Workforce</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idd0b3ce4ee4a24c64bd0a26dc866c8b5e">Sec. 301. Logging workforce.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idCDE9DE73D0BF425A91C242409EA3F8B5">Sec. 302. Break-in-service consideration for firefighter retirements.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id54406C653C3B487E9F8CD4DBFA93F294">Sec. 303. Firefighter rental housing.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="title" idref="id4B18C7E0AEAC42B4AB4DCC90EF9019F9">TITLE IV—Cultural Change in Agencies</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id3b4554498da34bf0b78eb06389005fe7">Sec. 401. Mandatory use of existing authorities.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="id6e665e1693164dc795816a87eb26f002">Sec. 402. Curtailing employee relocations.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="idE6578807EFF34390A69DBE57148E0646">Sec. 403. Repeal of FLAME reports.</toc-entry></toc></subsection></section><section id="id1882c3d275914f0d94f3fe73140e6a8a"><enum>2.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act:</text><paragraph id="id7679ae6dbfd042f1a32b83eb599f5a20"><enum>(1)</enum><header>National Forest System</header><subparagraph id="id2aebed26dc8f41dfb8c29ce6939d894e"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>National Forest System</term> has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1609">16 U.S.C. 1609(a)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idba7e8bf613b14705a3d3c4c659552d10"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>The term <term>National Forest System</term> does not include—</text><clause id="idc17f568d8df14e99a4fec1d131b1a7c1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any forest reserve not created from the public domain; or</text></clause><clause id="id8dc1d1a6c7e942c58b2e8974893a2839"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any national grassland or land utilization project administered under title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1010">7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id10433f8c9e7f438cb582687bcda37acd"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Public lands</header><subparagraph id="id40451E850D25428A9E95469A7F59B3BB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term <term>public lands</term> has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1702">43 U.S.C. 1702</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDA24CFD324AA452F8C3A4C637104A671"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>public lands</term> does not include land governed by the Act of August 28, 1937 (50 Stat. 874, chapter 876; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/2601">43 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9cca77252cd94ea29dafe07104c40806"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Secretary concerned</header><text>The term <term>Secretary concerned</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id09bbf687b41243188f5d50a554decf0e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to National Forest System land; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF2AB65224AD648D9B45E6AE9568D2D3D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, with respect to public lands.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><title id="idF5CD13D30ED240D68F348CECDECD403E" style="OLC"><enum>I</enum><header>Accomplishments Over Rhetoric</header><section id="idc670f485ba204073ac8b9fa5a5106681"><enum>101.</enum><header>Thinning targets</header><subsection id="idcb11e0a3277b46a5a6808cceea5e859a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Baseline</header><text>For the National Forest System and for public lands, the Secretary concerned shall determine—</text><paragraph id="idB44033493DF74CEA977AB251EEF87CF1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the number of acres mechanically thinned, for acres commercially thinned and for acres pre-commercially thinned; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8c1025fb164e4747ab7e7b2beaf69609"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the average of the numbers described in paragraph (1) over the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2021.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id384b4c0abd9e47ab8946354229c817e3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual targets</header><paragraph id="idC51BCBB52D2D4A2B85A06AE0EC1FD3EF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall establish annual mechanical thinning targets for acres commercially thinned and for acres pre-commercially thinned for fiscal year 2023, and annually thereafter, for the National Forest System and for public lands.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbe56816347ae409595f6c3f4e1b88265"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><subparagraph id="id861F264132AE4A709156C1F38CC1CF80"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Fiscal years 2023 and 2024</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the annual mechanical thinning targets established under paragraph (1) shall be not less than the number of acres described in subsection (a)(2). </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide64ca6a5c1e44d22a5f9dfae3767bde0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fiscal years 2025 and 2026</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the annual mechanical thinning targets established under paragraph (1) shall be not less than twice the number of acres described in subsection (a)(2).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA5F94853A5A24490BCB80357095DF9A8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Fiscal year 2027</header><text>For fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, the annual mechanical thinning targets established under paragraph (1) shall be not less than 4 times the number of acres described in subsection (a)(2). </text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2b86f0590fe8471fb1b5813cd9539dee"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Regional assignments</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall assign annual acreage targets for mechanical thinning on National Forest System land and public lands, categorized by National Forest System region or by State, as appropriate.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6ffabf6a47564302aa69a0a9e2edc5f1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall make publicly available the data described in subsections (a), (b), and (c), including by publishing that data on the website of the Forest Service and the website of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></subsection></section><section id="idcbc5032b09634348ab07e91c662210bc"><enum>102.</enum><header>Annual reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall publish on the website of the Forest Service and the website of the Bureau of Land Management the following information with respect to the National Forest System or public lands during the preceding fiscal year:</text><paragraph id="id332fa66fd1e7428794667b9ea73b202f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The number of acres treated to meet the requirement described in section 40803(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(b)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id70311454003949fca7db680dc72e55ec"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idfc8a84ac969a40868bbab112fc69f3fe"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of acres mechanically thinned; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5f98a0e26b6a44f686fffab4ce9d70fc" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>whether the number of acres described in subparagraph (A) met or exceeded the requirements described in section 101(b)(2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idedf0dfebe5894421a4916825e8101c21"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Any limitations or challenges, including litigation or permitting delays, that hindered the Secretary concerned from meeting or exceeding the annual target established under section 101(b)(1), if applicable. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1ccb96a736ea440cacd3f7cbb826a4d9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The number of acres that have undergone a regeneration harvest.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id31db6ee5f7a34d4999bb840d675b2086"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The number of acres described in paragraphs (2)(A) and (4) that are in an area identified as having—</text><subparagraph id="id211a898927864af1978a9f8e7a682be2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the expectation that, without remediation, at least 25 percent of standing live basal area greater than 1 inch in diameter may die over a 15-year time frame due to insects and diseases, as depicted on the National Insect and Disease Composite Risk Map; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id81f0b0f740c449b091fa1c6482f0f87d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a very high or high wildfire hazard potential.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8d919ac3c87a408dae7d645fe1ee8788"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The number of acres described in paragraphs (2)(A) and (4) that use either of the following streamlined authorities for environmental review:</text><subparagraph id="id43a2e1d80a0c4d34853f0c96ab9e355a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A categorical exclusion.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide1fa70f2b96047cfa5bed1cef760c0d0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An emergency determination of the Secretary concerned.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide1146eb711134bd3a9e5316ce1b1e28d"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The number of acres described in paragraphs (2)(A) and (4) that use partners to carry out the work through—</text><subparagraph id="ida02fa0d4793d43f2a34b8492cdf8c3ad"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a good neighbor agreement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF2BD9AF80FBB47779D560A5E19BAC64F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a master stewardship agreement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id84417736186e41ef9787df3cd0cfcaea"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a contract or agreement entered into under the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/3115a">25 U.S.C. 3115a</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD27E0B39F8004588AAD9FFBCFA6D6B82"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a stewardship end-result contract.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="idafc641646f984f47910a45ca7aac3db5"><enum>103.</enum><header>Transparency in fire mitigation reporting</header><subsection id="id1526c7e79b4e40dcbfa24ffca747a7b4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Exclusion from annual budget and performance reports</header><paragraph id="id57348128D7F94E89908590D230E45927"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall not include in any appropriations request submitted to the President for purposes of preparing the budget of the United States Government under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, or any annual performance report submitted to Congress any output measures for acres of land on which hazardous fuels treatments were conducted if the land needs to be treated more than once—</text><subparagraph id="id4D9607191DB0431E8A8ADBBC36DAC390"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to meet the requirement described in section 40803(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(b)</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC780FBD1CAF5400EB9C2CDF895BEB1D7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to effectively mitigate wildfire risk. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id4B176918A36E4613ACF6E185EC05D685"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual budget</header><text>The President shall not include in the budget of the United States Government submitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, any output measures described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idad7040f86e444dc8b8971785588c5fbd"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>Output measures described in paragraph (1) include—</text><subparagraph id="idb1b103e2d2ca477ab12ec23b9a89b2b5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>acres of hazardous fuels reduction on National Forest System land and adjacent areas to mitigate wildfire risk; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id348f858782c4416a94af92af1b5d989f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>annual acreage treated to reduce or maintain fuel conditions on National Forest System land and non-Federal land.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0E539C896AD14443840C0DF78D2F8B21"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inclusion in annual budget and performance reports</header><paragraph id="id5BF0899F65BF43279E2F06AB48A62266"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall include in an appropriations request submitted to the President for purposes of preparing the budget of the United States Government under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, and an annual performance report submitted to Congress—</text><subparagraph id="id6C58E6154D764C118C493635777F1851"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of acres of land meeting the requirement described in section 40803(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(b)</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id77A4F4A8820648BE824A4670CC13B3FE" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the annual acreage of National Forest System land where final treatment effectively mitigates wildfire risk. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2FDA228930224C66A5BA1D83E4CF567B" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual budget</header><text>The President shall include in the budget of the United States Government submitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the information described in paragraph (1). </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idD4701168D43E42428A1E6391C9E9F391"><enum>104.</enum><header>Regional forest carbon accounting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than January 1, 2024, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id6844d6ac6167495080dd8689c4439a63"><enum>(1)</enum><text>using data from the forest inventory and analysis program, determine the net forest carbon balance on the land in the National Forest System of each Forest Service region, including whether the National Forest System land is— </text><subparagraph id="idf7133eb800e745cfa04da3aae6ede602"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a carbon source; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida22991d493674a2c9444a5af9fffeeaa"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a carbon sink; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2107266013734b899b18f6b66a1e86a5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>publish the information described in paragraph (1) on the website of the Forest Service. </text></paragraph></section><section id="id7e2217c8dfdc409d80037e1775442be5"><enum>105.</enum><header>Targets for wildlife habitat improvement</header><subsection id="id0fececba587f4bbea5abe42a612bb342"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To improve wildlife habitat function on National Forest System land and public lands, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall—</text><paragraph id="id4ab75447202b43269f9a30858ac4f824"><enum>(1)</enum><text>evaluate the extent to which the specific management goals and objectives relating to wildlife habitat in existing land management plans or resource management plans, as applicable, have been met through implementation of the applicable land management plan or resource management plan; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id71b819cec76f4d46b80ba28ae1e013f4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish and implement a strategy, including establishing annual targets, to meet the specific management goals and objectives described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcac8591c4b3c4ede9798525b5d05e6f0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the Secretary concerned shall annually—</text><paragraph id="iddf42f9dbc9d649be8a2f5b3397579121"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish targets associated with the strategy developed under subsection (a)(2); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7a197b99ce334eada6d24679cff8b8a7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of the strategy developed under subsection (a)(2). </text></paragraph></subsection></section></title><title id="idDB6C57BEA3994454BCC523C3C3EBDD17" style="OLC"><enum>II</enum><header>Forest Management</header><section id="idf355806f74194472972764e539aaaca2"><enum>201.</enum><header>Land and resource management plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives an assessment of the time period that would be required for the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to address the backlog of land and resource management plans that are noncompliant with section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)</external-xref>), and to come into compliance with that section, if the land and resource management plans for the units of the National Forest System were developed and revised in a manner consistent with the shorter length and development timelines of the land management plans for the units of the National Park System. </text></section><section id="id8d47766a3de342a8b5f8d6958f0e88c4"><enum>202.</enum><header>Management of old growth and mature forests</header><subsection id="idb91a89ecc3e1486eaa8a5049fe309057"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of old growth</header><paragraph id="id27cd8fa731d34f3cbd583dd4405fb2b3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned shall adhere to the definitions of <quote>old growth forest</quote> contained in the regulations of the Secretary concerned (as in effect on January 1, 2022).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id858d4597e0ca408baefffee20ef99897"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Updates</header><text>If the Secretary concerned determines that a definition of <quote>old growth forest</quote> contained in a regulation of the Secretary concerned needs to be revised, the Secretary concerned—</text><subparagraph id="ida777d3f633494c849371467cf2570593"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall appoint a committee of scientists who are not officers or employees of the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management and have a background in forestry and stand dynamics (referred to in this paragraph as the <term>committee of scientists</term>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6170397b83ac4a28b4ed5cbeb24026d0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall direct the committee of scientists to provide scientific and technical advice and counsel on definitions of <quote>old growth forest</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida631a66a7d8c46bc8637a70ca9779380"><enum>(C)</enum><text>shall review the recommendations of the committee of scientists;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2d049d49ded14d4d80883aa623faaba0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>shall publish the recommendations of the committee of scientists for public comment; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id150f2743c3094f569a67c92d06571b82"><enum>(E)</enum><text>may adopt the recommendations of the committee of scientists and revise the definition in a manner consistent with subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Administrative Procedure Act</quote>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1ed0bc91dd344bdb86284ab2bb9f9f34"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Management of mature trees</header><paragraph id="id039e0c1a7ca14f4d86b1b658e98cc644"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of mature forest</header><subparagraph id="id2970569A7BD3472B85A5666E1244062C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Consistent with section 6(m)(1) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(m)(1)</external-xref>), with respect to National Forest System land and public lands, the Secretary concerned shall define the term <quote>mature forest</quote> as a forest that has reached the merchantability standard described in subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFF103523DAA948FAAB4A8F46B11FD0FF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Merchantability standard</header><text>The merchantability standard referred to in subparagraph (A) is when a forest has generally reached the culmination of mean annual increment of growth.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbedc1e41e8ce42f5befed4984587353a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Management</header><text>Except as provided in section 6(m) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(m)</external-xref>), on National Forest System land and public lands, the Secretary concerned shall only carry out timber harvests in mature forests (as defined by the Secretary concerned under paragraph (1)).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id96f11862b29a4ad2810ebe381a3935fd"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>Any inventory of forests adopted through executive branch action, whether based on stand age, tree age, or tree diameter, shall not modify, amend, or otherwise change the duties of the Secretary concerned to manage unreserved forests in accordance with, as applicable—</text><paragraph id="idf483aa90c36348139e9e19eeb806664e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Act of June 4, 1897 (commonly known as the <quote>Organic Administration Act</quote>) (30 Stat. 34, chapter 2);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc78a0338902b4f25bb774c8faa490e94"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/528">16 U.S.C. 528 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id53a1c02844f546c4acfe5e27d65be776"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the <act-name parsable-cite="FRRRP">Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1600">16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9c721b96389343df9e250686383d8648"><enum>(4)</enum><text>section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/472a">16 U.S.C. 472a</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1d16b57c997b4563b939ea805a30e6c8"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the <act-name parsable-cite="FLPMA">Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1701">43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9ea8abea1127430091b3378fe06dbc8e"><enum>203.</enum><header>Assessment of processed-based restoration techniques</header><subsection id="id0C00A5C815AF49FFB97EB0A9F900E025"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Wetland and riparian restoration pilot program</header><paragraph id="id067314bc7daa498c8eb8456d317e0a83"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this subsection as the <term>Secretaries</term>), shall jointly establish a pilot program to conduct research on and evaluate wetland and riparian restoration techniques.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id162b3da4b5fe4d45b5159319388d7659"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Assessments</header><text>In carrying out this subsection, the Secretaries shall—</text><subparagraph id="id3c5f13b890874140b5d3f89972e1e0f0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>assess the benefits, including to downstream infrastructure, water storage, and resilience to natural hazards, of process-based river and wetland restoration techniques when carried out at larger scales; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddf047e65061d4665bbebedabea04f887"><enum>(B)</enum><text>make available to the public the results of the assessment described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id24cecb35e02c49a68415109ffe453179"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Experimental forests pilot project</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall carry out a pilot project on the experimental forests and ranges managed by the Forest Service to evaluate biologically driven restoration. </text></subsection></section><section id="id89dc7915245143c78b33337664aa5893"><enum>204.</enum><header>Intervenor status</header><subsection id="id68a9ab9d36f64486a4b0440c62956671"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of a civil action relating to a qualified project described in subsection (b), a unit of local government shall be—</text><paragraph id="idf0f381e1cb6f47f8a790c5f7308ca47f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>entitled to intervene, as of right, in any subsequent civil action; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id47067a3889b54d9b9b44cdba09c43de4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>considered to be a full participant in any settlement negotiation relating to the qualified project if the unit of local government intervenes.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1a6c7f1ebb964690a286b83cc90af671"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Description of qualified project</header><text>A qualified project referred to in subsection (a) is a project that—</text><paragraph id="idD714FA2512D1408EB8491B219B101E97"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is located on National Forest System land or public lands;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id387a208065044ddeb98d80c9bd9fbc44"><enum>(2)</enum><text>has been approved by the Secretary concerned; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id579bdffeafe8482a911a4be5be3332a7"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id2d714dfd3bf7487ca00afd440b0593ea"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reduces the risk posed by wildfire, including an insect and disease mitigation project; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id29500aa9555340648624c99c4b88df25" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>generates revenue from the harvesting of timber.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1ee6a9947fd84cff877616385484290e"><enum>205.</enum><header>Utilizing grazing for wildfire prevention</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary concerned, in coordination with holders of permits to graze livestock on Federal land, shall develop a strategy to increase opportunities to utilize livestock grazing as a wildfire mitigation strategy, including—</text><paragraph id="id8a2a5d79d54d45c29edd2ac52876a97d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>completion of reviews (as required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>)) to allow permitted grazing on vacant grazing allotments during instances of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters that disrupt grazing on allotments already permitted;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb0c7a00f8c344dba92bc3bd544427a50"><enum>(2)</enum><text>use of targeted grazing;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id906ee3a2c89d44b2b4b5d2c9aea4023e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>increased use of temporary permits to promote targeted fuels reduction and reduction of invasive annual grasses;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide2ab762bbf134803b6c75c24a713629e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>increased use of grazing as a fire recovery strategy, where appropriate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1bd58dace23346b893206095a7ed27ff"><enum>(5)</enum><text>use of all applicable authorities under law. </text></paragraph></section></title><title id="idD68751241B864B69B03DEE7BDA294CC0" style="OLC"><enum>III</enum><header>Workforce</header><section id="idd0b3ce4ee4a24c64bd0a26dc866c8b5e"><enum>301.</enum><header>Logging workforce</header><subsection id="id39f04e223c4349158b5a738e2c3e1752"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Training</header><paragraph id="id466f1f2b168149208da98869b4e16ec2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Interstate training programs</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall work with States to develop a universal, tiered program to train persons to enter the logging workforce.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id35ca335cd6844f22a172b2871774e2df"><enum>(2)</enum><header>On-the-job training</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall examine potential ways to facilitate apprenticeship training to increase knowledge and skills in an emerging logging workforce.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id54011653fd294646be7219a51ebb5966"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modernizing machinery</header><text>Using funds made available under section 40804(b)(3) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592a">16 U.S.C. 6592a(b)(3)</external-xref>), the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide low-interest loans or loan guarantees to persons, subject to such conditions as the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be necessary, for the acquisition of mechanized machinery for decreasing injuries in the logging workforce. </text></subsection></section><section id="idCDE9DE73D0BF425A91C242409EA3F8B5" commented="no"><enum>302.</enum><header>Break-in-service consideration for firefighter retirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding sections 8336(c) and 8412(d) of title 5, United States Code, not later than May 1, 2023, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall promulgate regulations, as necessary, to ensure that a Federal wildland firefighter would not forfeit previously made contributions or eligibility for firefighter retirement when the wildland firefighter has a voluntary break in service of not more than 9 months.</text></section><section id="id54406C653C3B487E9F8CD4DBFA93F294" commented="no"><enum>303.</enum><header>Firefighter rental housing</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding OMB Circular No. A–45R, when the Secretary concerned requires a Federal wildland firefighter to occupy government housing, the Secretary concerned shall not deduct for government housing rent from the payroll of the wildland firefighter an amount that is greater than 40 percent of the pre-tax salary of the wildland firefighter.</text></section></title><title id="id4B18C7E0AEAC42B4AB4DCC90EF9019F9" style="OLC"><enum>IV</enum><header>Cultural Change in Agencies</header><section id="id3b4554498da34bf0b78eb06389005fe7"><enum>401.</enum><header>Mandatory use of existing authorities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, with respect to each unit of public lands and each unit of the National Forest System, the Secretary concerned shall use not fewer than 1 of the following streamlined authorities for environmental review:</text><paragraph id="id6bdbddbfd0a9422d8d14359e2ad9b6a8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 603(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591b">16 U.S.C. 6591b(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8a40d988612643f3bea79c63a5e10c7d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 605(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591d">16 U.S.C. 6591d(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1856a69102434170bd5bd6b3828fa237"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section 606(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591e">16 U.S.C. 6591e(b)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idaf09882b5a344b048cef9b4f29990bc4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Section 40806(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592b">16 U.S.C. 6592b(b)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb94dd5f373964a899407fadd2ac6958a"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592c">16 U.S.C. 6592c</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9e1f3cd197764b16af97807804bede80"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Section 207 of the Wildfire Suppression Funding and Forest Management Activities Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/141">Public Law 115–141</external-xref>). </text></paragraph></section><section id="id6e665e1693164dc795816a87eb26f002"><enum>402.</enum><header>Curtailing employee relocations</header><subsection id="id472821f0bfdc4f73a1afcf6804f673cb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the <term>Secretary</term>), shall curtail employee relocations to significantly increase the period of time that each line officer works at a duty station.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3836fe8c49fd4f56ba3af2678b677a36"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Line officer hiring eligibility</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall solicit applications for line officer positions in a manner that does not limit eligibility for the solicited position to only an applicant who is a current employee of the Forest Service. </text></subsection><subsection id="idfc858bc1c27f43c18ef9167c0e3d7afb"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limits on relocation payments</header><text>The Secretary shall not reimburse an employee or otherwise pay for expenses relating to a change in duty station in an amount that exceeds $100,000.</text></subsection><subsection id="id70194b704f8d43a09c82c290e142f83d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Employment development</header><text>The Secretary shall develop a program to provide incentives for employees to gain experience and skills without relocating (commonly referred to as <quote>growing in place</quote>).</text></subsection></section><section id="idE6578807EFF34390A69DBE57148E0646" commented="no"><enum>403.</enum><header>Repeal of FLAME reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 502 of the FLAME Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1748a">43 U.S.C. 1748a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id079CAFB48C254F17B71E1549AB0E66A8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking subsection (h); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idD176647CD151412D83B5537344A3D43D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h).</text></paragraph></section></title></legis-body></bill> 

