Pilot program

(a)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Area of the National Forest System

The term area of the National Forest System means all or a portion of a unit of the National Forest System that is located west of the 100th meridian.(2)

Pilot program

The term pilot program means the pilot program established under subsection (b).(3)

Pre-fire-suppression stand density index

The term pre-fire-suppression stand density index means an estimate of the naturally occurring or ecologically balanced stand density index of a forest, as developed from historical surveys or appropriate scientific inference, before fire suppression regimens became common practice.(4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.(5)

Stand density index

The term stand density index means an expression of relative stand density based on the predictable relationship between average tree size and trees per unit area in dense stands. (6)

Treatment

The term treatment means—(A)a mechanical treatment of hazardous fuels;(B)a stewardship end-result contracting project;(C)restoration services; or(D)timber harvesting.(b)

Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall—(1)collaborate with State or local forest management agencies—(A)to identify areas of the National Forest System for potential selection under paragraph (3) for inclusion in the pilot program; and(B)to research and establish a pre-fire-suppression stand density index for each area of the National Forest System identified under subparagraph (A);(2)evaluate how closely each pre-fire-suppression stand density index established under paragraph (1)(B) reflects current forest conditions and current published resource management objectives established by the Secretary for the applicable area of the National Forest System; and(3)select, in consultation with State or local forest management agencies, not fewer than 8 areas of the National Forest System identified under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to which the area and neighboring communities may benefit from using a pre-fire-suppression stand density index as a benchmark for treatments by— (A)reducing the chances of catastrophic wildfire;(B)increasing forest health;(C)increasing forest resilience;(D)increasing ecological diversity; or(E)improving such other criteria as the Secretary, in consultation with State or local forest management agencies, determine to be appropriate. (c)

Implementation

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin to conduct treatments on areas of the National Forest System selected under subsection (b)(3), and update applicable land and resource management plans to include objectives and benchmarks, in accordance with the applicable pre-fire-suppression stand density index established under subsection (b)(1)(B).(d)

Selection of areas

In selecting areas of the National Forest System for inclusion in the pilot program under subsection (b)(3) and conducting treatments under subsection (c), the Secretary shall—(1)give priority to an area—(A)within the wildland-urban interface (as defined in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511));(B)constituting a community watershed;(C)vulnerable to erosion;(D)hosting multiple-use activities;(E)critical to supporting wildlife or plant species health; or(F)with respect to which a treatment is necessary to prevent catastrophic wildfire; and(2)select a geographically diverse sample of areas of the National Forest System, which shall include not fewer than 3 areas of the National Forest System in the southwest United States. (e)

Funding

The Secretary shall carry out this section using funds otherwise made available to the Secretary for fuels reduction treatments.