115 S2867 RS: Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2023
U.S. Senate
2024-11-21
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.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2023
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Accomplishments Over RhetoricSec. 101. Thinning targets.Sec. 102. Annual reports.Sec. 103. Transparency in fire mitigation reporting.Sec. 104. Regional forest carbon accounting.Sec. 105. Targets for wildlife habitat improvement.TITLE II—Forest ManagementSec. 201. Land and resource management plans.Sec. 202. Management of old growth and mature forests.Sec. 203. Assessment of processed-based restoration techniques.Sec. 204. Intervenor status.Sec. 205. Utilizing grazing for wildfire prevention.TITLE III—WorkforceSec. 301. Logging workforce.Sec. 302. Break-in-service consideration for firefighter retirements.Sec. 303. Firefighter rental housing.TITLE IV—Cultural Change in AgenciesSec. 401. Mandatory use of existing authorities.Sec. 402. Curtailing employee relocations.Sec. 403. Repeal of FLAME reports.2.In this Act:(1)(A)The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).(B)The term National Forest System does not include—(i)any forest reserve not created from the public domain; or(ii)any national grassland or land utilization project administered under title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.).(2)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term public lands has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).(B)The term public lands does not include land governed by the Act of August 28, 1937 (50 Stat. 874, chapter 876; 43 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.).(3)The term Secretary concerned means—(A)the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to National Forest System land; and (B)the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, with respect to public lands.<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 2024, 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 2024 and 2025</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025, 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 2026 and 2027</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027, 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 2028</header><text>For fiscal year 2028 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, 2024, 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC780FBD1CAF5400EB9C2CDF895BEB1D7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to effectively mitigate wildfire risk. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id77A4F4A8820648BE824A4670CC13B3FE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the annual acreage of National Forest System land where final treatment effectively mitigates wildfire risk. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2FDA228930224C66A5BA1D83E4CF567B"><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, 2025, 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 2025, 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><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 180 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 regeneration 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 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, insect, or disease; 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><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 the purposes of decreasing injuries in the logging workforce. </text></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="idCDE9DE73D0BF425A91C242409EA3F8B5"><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, 2024, 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 commented="no" id="id54406C653C3B487E9F8CD4DBFA93F294"><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><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 that contains land described in section 102(5), 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 commented="no" id="idE6578807EFF34390A69DBE57148E0646"><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>1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2024
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Accomplishments over rhetoricSec. 101. Accelerating treatments on Federal land.Sec. 102. Annual reports.Sec. 103. Transparency in hazardous fuels reduction activity reporting.Sec. 104. Regional forest carbon accounting.Sec. 105. Wildland fire performance metrics.TITLE II—Forest managementSec. 201. Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way.Sec. 202. Timber sales on National Forest System land.Sec. 203. Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees.Sec. 204. Intervenor status.Sec. 205. Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction.TITLE III—WorkforceSec. 301. Direct hire authority.Sec. 302. Continuing accrual of service for firefighters.Sec. 303. Affordable housing for Federal wildland firefighters.TITLE IV—Cultural change in agenciesSec. 401. Mandatory use of existing authorities.Sec. 402. Public-private wildfire technology deployment and testbed partnership.Sec. 403. Repeal of FLAME reports.2.In this Act:(1)The term Federal land means—(A)land of the National Forest System; and(B)public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)), the surface of which is administered by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.(2)Hazardous fuels reduction activity(A)The term hazardous fuels reduction activity means any vegetation management activity to reduce the risk of wildfire, including mechanical treatments and prescribed burning.(B)The term hazardous fuels reduction activity does not include the awarding of a contract to conduct any activity described in subparagraph (A).(3)(A)The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).(B)The term National Forest System does not include any forest reserve not created from the public domain.(4)The term Secretary concerned means—(A)the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to Federal land described in paragraph (1)(A); and(B)the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, with respect to Federal land described in paragraph (1)(B).(5)The term wildland-urban interface has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).<enum>I</enum><header>Accomplishments over rhetoric</header><section id="idf47d4ee3-ea0d-4c00-a0a4-f76c6bbee9d0"><enum>101.</enum><header>Accelerating treatments on Federal land</header><subsection id="id39e5d5a8-bb78-4ba7-ae33-60b71a7daab9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Baseline treatments for fuels reduction and forest health</header><text>For Federal land, the Secretary concerned shall determine—</text><paragraph id="id5840b547-6c23-4d59-b9d0-04cc9663d48d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023—</text><subparagraph id="idC9DD6DBF079D4ED6AF63D04D26DBCFE9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of acres mechanically thinned, for acres commercially thinned and for acres pre-commercially thinned; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCFA8369D28D94B1EA35A08225ABFEA56"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number of acres treated by prescribed fire; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id898e31a6-f89d-423c-beaf-c92eaaedd9e4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the average of the numbers described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) over the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida816f5c3-45d2-4ae0-a7df-fb02a329ae17"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual goals</header><paragraph id="ida71b9db8-9a52-4462-803e-7358214fe69c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For Federal land for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall establish annual—</text><subparagraph id="idDB9CCBE39DBA4596B2CD232EC7A882FF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>mechanical thinning goals for acres commercially thinned and for acres pre-commercially thinned; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id93A0C4C0E0F24C43B479895AB1F6C6B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prescribed fire goals.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6c07aa7e-cc95-4d77-a980-7a35812d9a89"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><subparagraph id="id2dabbfef-3a20-480b-aa49-2a8789418d4c"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Fiscal years 2025 and 2026</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the goals established under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be not less than the number of acres described in subsection (a)(2). </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8092b4fd-b598-46f5-90b9-ecb1ffcdbcf8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fiscal years 2027 and 2028</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028, the goals established under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be not less than 20 percent more than the number of acres described in subsection (a)(2).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id19648a1a-e3e1-42d5-ba18-f78de8bad83c"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Fiscal year 2029 and subsequent fiscal years</header><text>For fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year thereafter, the goals established under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be not less than 40 percent more than the number of acres described in subsection (a)(2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id55b41ae4-9825-4652-a779-57ebc0281263"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Regional allotments</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 allotments for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire on Federal land, categorized by National Forest System region or by State, as appropriate.</text></subsection><subsection id="id9f1245d3-df80-4c6d-a377-4c37a190f847"><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><subsection id="idf84c342c69a244d4a6727edf48f5701d"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Savings provision</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede or conflict with any other provision of law, including—</text><paragraph id="id6bdfa80ac3ae421cac5ac4520f024be8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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></paragraph><paragraph id="id9feda853b34348d5bc95c8c7caf2ef5d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Wilderness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1131">16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2b09daacb6f44661830e30028e755e2e"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Applicability of NEPA</header><text>The establishment of annual goals under subsection (b)(1) and the assignment of regional allotments under subsection (c) shall not be subject to the requirements of 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>). </text></subsection></section><section id="idca790934-3399-418f-afa3-509f0e6cb67e"><enum>102.</enum><header>Annual reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than September 30, 2025, and annually thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall publish on a public website of the Forest Service and a public website of the Bureau of Land Management the following information with respect to the Federal land during the preceding fiscal year:</text><paragraph id="idac5076dd-8db9-4f6b-a094-9b87cab82f8a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The number of acres treated pursuant to 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="idf945abf9-1a79-49d2-b77f-c0e671e135d1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9a40b46b-cf31-452a-93b3-8c59ed4be325"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The number of acres mechanically thinned;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4A58E40B16794C3DB18EFF3B87A8EF1E" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number of acres treated by prescribed fire; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id855db641-093f-47e4-b697-3f2955575c35" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>whether the number of acres described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) met or exceeded the acres described in section 101(b)(2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide94f85f5-fd24-4987-ab23-d0084980afea"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Any limitations or challenges, including litigation or delays in the preparation of environmental documentation, that hindered the Secretary concerned from meeting or exceeding the annual goals established under section 101(b)(1), if applicable. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id06e4a5ac-dd29-442f-a890-77369c02de01"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The number of acres that have undergone a regeneration harvest.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id78feca0d-be3f-4f64-aab7-052bf5e72c2f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The number of acres described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) that are in an area identified as having—</text><subparagraph id="id70592bf1-76a8-4764-83e6-401df26d6c29"><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="id49196378-b1b4-4dba-b8d9-0296729aff9a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a very high or high wildfire hazard potential.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id317b0824-ae5f-4116-825c-b1befcaa000b"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The number of acres described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) that use either of the following streamlined authorities for environmental review:</text><subparagraph id="id665bd0e7-aa47-4d7e-9621-87ce5e859d7b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A categorical exclusion.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd94de03-0196-42f1-be9f-54576f1d866b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An emergency action authority of the Secretary concerned.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9bdd3128-fed4-4068-8644-4df4494068eb"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The number of acres described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) with respect to which partners are used to carry out the work through—</text><subparagraph id="id9f7eb14b-2deb-49e5-9f4b-e686823b6236"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a good neighbor agreement 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></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4c193352-d296-4ef9-8d8c-77cca3bc0499"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a master stewardship agreement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7082a1d8-bf0a-468d-b64f-79a77d149735"><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="id7ae3fda2-560a-4c4f-9112-5e47b44af168"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a stewardship end-result contract.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id7F448F70F57D4AFC9566B3B28601E09B"><enum>103.</enum><header>Transparency in hazardous fuels reduction activity reporting</header><subsection id="id02c0d573609d4ceea1703c8b780ad16a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Inclusion of hazardous fuels reduction report in materials submitted in support of the President’s budget</header><paragraph id="ide208f7f6b2fe4e42a3c7ba5ef7e3225d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall include in the materials submitted in support of the President’s budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a report describing—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id97c7603b8f054da7b59b1c4ccefa69ab"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030, the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during each of the preceding 6 fiscal years, as assessed by the Secretary concerned using—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide0a1ac3b10384b1cbf8cb75343311405"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the methodology of the Secretary concerned in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1b950978487043228689165f9b7785c1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the methodology described in paragraph (2); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb37150c81419489bb18899d556812460"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for fiscal year 2031 and each fiscal year thereafter, the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during each of the preceding 6 fiscal years, as assessed by the Secretary concerned using the methodology described in paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1365acf104cb4714811a2b01599b48bb"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>For purposes of the reports required under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall—</text><subparagraph id="id09884f563d4b4c4b86d988076916eed2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in determining the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during each fiscal year covered by the report—</text><clause id="id722b3255584a42f0a19dd4d68d57c5dc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>record acres of Federal land on which hazardous fuels reduction activities were completed during each such fiscal year; and</text></clause><clause id="id61b6e57d9dc9418186ff9eef7841ad0a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>record each acre described in clause (i) once in the report with respect to a fiscal year, regardless of whether multiple hazardous fuels reduction activities were carried out on such acre during such fiscal year; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcad6d2fc1524401385367d4a5a10d6d1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to the acres of Federal land recorded in the report, include information on—</text><clause id="id6c046a24260244eb8074ce3dde21f5ec"><enum>(i)</enum><text>which such acres are located in the wildland-urban interface;</text></clause><clause id="idacd8a5dbaab84ce9ae557b8b15b195ec"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the level of wildfire risk (high, moderate, or low) on the first and last day of each fiscal year covered by the report;</text></clause><clause id="id016d92bd793d4c18aaeaf459e767aba8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the types of hazardous fuels reduction activities completed for such acres, delineating between whether such activities were conducted—</text><subclause id="ide5f76b01181940089867e0f25f2ecc3c"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in a wildfire managed for resource benefits; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id0d5cccf981264b35b9bec4e5d498f508"><enum>(II)</enum><text>through a planned project;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idc566704cec1a4ad69f42b4412ebe8b5c"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the cost per acre of hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out during each fiscal year covered by the report;</text></clause><clause id="id5c61cd4f3d2b4393baeb4ec95e67e67f"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the region or System unit in which the acres are located; and</text></clause><clause id="id310f641cb3f04eb1ae07ffd220b9b94f"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction activities on reducing the risk of wildfire.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3a67bad2f6344d898bb0d6b8afe5ca48"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transparency</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall make each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available on the website of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, as applicable.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id38c36dba731b4b289dcc1d66eb10bc48"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Accurate data collection</header><paragraph id="idf84a641119c3457fa482b6478d9ab000"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall implement standardized procedures for tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6dff177d3a5c48189f199141505bb84f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The standardized procedures required under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="id75c4f92470d24153adf90ff5d382517f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy and timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels reduction activities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida81f5d6dd6894ee19e333755f8192c32"><enum>(B)</enum><text>verification methods that validate whether such data accurately correlates to the hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the Secretary concerned;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd9a980a37d39415e9013b2377b1b9ab6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an analysis of the short- and long-term effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction activities on reducing the risk of wildfire; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd98f260d6d494b95987d79a9b8d555c7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods to distinguish which acres are located within the wildland-urban interface and which acres are located outside the wildland-urban interface.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id976deda94fc0483db82b67f8aa5fe5f8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 14 days after implementing the standardized procedures required under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report that describes—</text><subparagraph id="id5da1c6480fb4401db29bc793befca15d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such standardized procedures; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida769e272ec254a53a3aa5fcdab2af2a3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>program and policy recommendations to Congress to address any limitations in tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idb761900e-bd7d-4af0-8315-d14020705410"><enum>104.</enum><header>Regional forest carbon accounting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than September 30, 2025, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id8311a818-14ac-4ef9-abcc-a9c9b7f63b9f"><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="id6d83f479-d33b-4360-949c-636bbf5eda1c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a carbon source; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd38a970c-1295-4f4d-a869-b37730026301"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a carbon sink; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida4902377-b8c0-453f-9064-fb66886dddac"><enum>(2)</enum><text>publish the information described in paragraph (1) on the website of the Forest Service. </text></paragraph></section><section id="idf1a3cbf401c7408d9b831b6d1bda0496" commented="no"><enum>105.</enum><header>Wildland fire performance metrics</header><subsection id="id17dd776f23cc4baf8af98ebeaf658c9e" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall submit to the committees of Congress described in subsection (c) a report on existing key performance indicators and potential outcome-based performance measures to reduce wildfire risk on Federal land. </text></subsection><subsection id="id19BDD6DE7B004B6587506C6254CE4BD3" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The report submitted under subsection (a) shall identify solutions to track the implementation and effectiveness of hazardous fuels reduction activities and forest restoration treatments, including strategies—</text><paragraph id="id1a803b72efaa4c7d92afdd725fe7a966" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to track whether land management activities are reducing wildfire hazards and ways to quantify and track acres in maintenance status;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5503f0e602f747698f5f577b74776de1" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to track place-based and locally led outcomes;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idabd5acb225ca492e8cd554002ef69216" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to standardize national-level monitoring measures;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id26101d94546a4f169eeaff1893a6523c" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to quantify catastrophic wildfire risk reduction; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf4d092c1b862471fb10933842f6f2d0f" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to identify modeling and data challenges that are preventing the transition to annual wildfire risk mapping updates; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida79143fb59f74d3eaf6de96403792421" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text>to integrate advanced technologies or a combination of technologies and analyses that will benefit the quality of information reported.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idF1FF725CBF364746B865D2D3F3CF0F3F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Committees of Congress described</header><text>The committees of Congress referred to in subsection (a) are—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idFF96F5CF87ED4C519B30F7524CBAD40D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id206AA47FA5BF41899A475B5E5918DB22"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id5A5DE40233144186B145F4276AB568A4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id8982323F967B48F7B74D3D3E3F5AC7E8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Forest management</header><section id="id6c4e31bafe764072868e11e16a417969"><enum>201.</enum><header>Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way</header><subsection id="id541d0241f728465ca2a2be3f0249a46e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hazard trees within 50 feet of electric power line</header><text>Section 512(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(a)(1)(B)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>10</quote> and inserting <quote>50</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd0371efa15bb47619e4bf1cd76c7cd95"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Permits and agreements with owners and operators of electric transmission or distribution facilities</header><text>Section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id6889acba61014c0c96ac63b20dffc10a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">managment</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">management</header-in-text></quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id755757db24ad4c62b4fdbe3ecc91c483"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6dc15c332b1e4b20a6aa4109a0087e7f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (i) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7a777eea1a1d4e01bf6183e16d95d516" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSEG00"><subsection id="id88c30b63baec4f648799cefc9810af64"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Permits and agreements with owners and operators of electric transmission or distribution facilities</header><paragraph id="idad2e684ea57a449b8799a5070860ff03"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any special use permit or easement on National Forest System or Bureau of Land Management land provided to the owner or operator of an electric transmission or distribution facility, the Secretary concerned may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within the vicinity of the electric transmission or distribution facility without requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with—</text><subparagraph id="id15B18D46DC754337B6A194B57D363955"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the applicable plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62a0408b1bef444dac6bd57f7382af4e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the applicable land and resource management plan or land use plan; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcf730849aca84a69882c2b6a0e23478e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other applicable environmental laws (including regulations).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9a32c5ec71e34c89ad0027dc0c348209"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of proceeds</header><text>A special use permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in paragraph (1) shall include a requirement that, if the owner or operator of the electric transmission or distribution facility sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement, the owner or operator shall provide to the Secretary concerned any proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idffb6e7b18baf4d2ca7359aec89127a99"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing in paragraph (2) shall require the sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ida2b344e4700e4c49ad5787af85b00927"><enum>202.</enum><header>Timber sales on National Forest System land</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 14(d) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/472a">16 U.S.C. 472a(d)</external-xref>) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$55,000</quote>.</text></section><section id="ida14b633b68c641879b97437d19e73820"><enum>203.</enum><header>Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees</header><subsection id="id1051522bf47347538d789524bfebec2d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idE189B6AF10314417BE2749A15C030D95"><enum>(1)</enum><header>High-priority hazard tree</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree</term> means a standing tree that—</text><subparagraph id="id355914297894471b862efcf2922ece1f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>presents a visible hazard to people or Federal property due to conditions such as deterioration of or damage to the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree, or the direction or lean of the tree, as determined by the Secretary;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaa15b663c8134d7fa0912bab4d49243d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is determined by the Secretary to be highly likely to fail and, if it failed, would be highly likely to cause injury to people or damage to Federal property; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3a204731f03843fb8e963c8a428cb244"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is—</text><clause id="idDE63F9C2A4BE4DAFB5AE3F7C90811063"><enum>(i)</enum><text>within 300 feet of a National Forest System road with a maintenance level of 3, 4, or 5;</text></clause><clause id="idEF7B1DC384E54E99A70CC62E7A6CE51C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>along a National Forest System trail; or </text></clause><clause id="idEDF4A5149A70447F927765974651D6CD"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in a developed recreation site on National Forest System land that is operated and maintained by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id83ba484f6aac4437987532f7f81d626e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>High-priority hazard tree activity</header><subparagraph id="id81F460AC24974B78A1BC0679F71D701C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activity</term> means a forest management activity that mitigates the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees, which may include pruning, felling, and disposal of those high-priority hazard trees.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbe75ff8c5e6a48b7ad75948d9df3c550"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activity</term> does not include—</text><clause id="id11faa1da58a14229a8b2b455374ebeb8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any activity conducted in a wilderness area or wilderness study area;</text></clause><clause id="id44a8fc47b5294e1fa106ca6bfdf89940"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any activity for the construction of a permanent road or permanent trail;</text></clause><clause id="id11a523e801b14d2795b8407f22dd267b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any activity conducted on Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited;</text></clause><clause id="id59ffb41cf58d4251ad1c20ed2d4e38d0"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any activity conducted in an area in which activities described in subparagraph (A) would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan; or</text></clause><clause id="idfeee6fcf331b40569e88478a2114f6ae"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any activity conducted in an inventoried roadless area.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6D7362E84E874272B41D05F8B5C8F62E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbdb56a4f5cf341609b831b82473bd667"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Categorical exclusion</header><paragraph id="id08170e2be8694dbfa63e4450240a5285"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a categorical exclusion (as defined in 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4336e">42 U.S.C. 4336e</external-xref>)) for high-priority hazard tree activities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4ff96d607f694c4784eb8101e92d65a8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>In developing and administering the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="idfbab4fc7bea148dd84077a70ff93b6d9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>comply with 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>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc5728b3b5aa940e2aeb70f9a22ceeb6e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), in determining whether to use the categorical exclusion.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5df26bb6fa9e4c5a812d9869853480ed"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project size limitation</header><text>A project carried out using the categorical exclusion developed under paragraph (1) may not exceed 3,000 acres.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1e0771c2-069b-41cc-8cdd-19d9941fb849"><enum>204.</enum><header>Intervenor status</header><subsection id="id916288b3-6a6d-49f4-b8cf-70ff83fb86a0"><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 or an Indian Tribe shall be—</text><paragraph id="id5eb506b7-cf21-4d88-8794-3e3913bca2c1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>entitled to intervene, as of right, in any subsequent civil action; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2f3ec7b4-ee12-4765-ad26-0746801bd35d"><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 or Indian Tribe, as applicable, intervenes.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id41dd7762-2157-486b-9d07-a3c4851708e0"><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="idddd5e4af-3ad5-41a6-89cd-e4dd62c2fc96"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is located on Federal land adjacent, or with sufficient minimum contacts, as determined by the Secretary concerned, to the land under the jurisdiction of the unit of local government or Indian Tribe, as applicable;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e8241c6-89c2-4a4a-81f4-4aa24c6a21fc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>has been approved by the Secretary concerned; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9ff98a76-9cfd-46ad-8134-7eb5bbab0e2d"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id6777abe9-1df8-4292-81b3-d308e5d3bca9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reduces the risk posed by wildfire, insect, or disease; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideca0f51c-c4aa-43e0-87c4-a9677a9dbcc1" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>generates revenue from the harvesting of timber.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idda035c536bc747639f8a33c6f022d13b"><enum>205.</enum><header>Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction</header><subsection id="id174fbbad421f4607a1121b46f43f8095"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall develop and submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a strategy to analyze and identify opportunities to use livestock grazing as a wildfire risk reduction tool on Federal land, consistent with the laws applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></subsection><subsection id="id4ed473e9de624f4f999dccb954644204"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text>The strategy developed under subsection (a) shall include an analysis of—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id51ffc499475e4bd2bc01e42ade778f2b"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">opportunities—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ab949c841764b8cb0d2b5ed03e0f2d4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to increase the use of any authorities applicable to livestock grazing, including modifications to grazing permits or leases to allow variances;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideaf803b9b7b04685b6516653ec7c4187"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to use targeted grazing to reduce hazardous fuels;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf00b7a2fe4d3464190b2793b1a6be353"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to integrate advanced technologies to dynamically adjust livestock placement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6722f6086e7c4c0e93138713be9396c0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to increase the use of livestock grazing to eradicate invasive annual grasses and as a post-fire restoration and recovery strategy, as appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id66672fd06fc04bae929a5311954a8ebe"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to facilitate and expedite the temporary use of vacant allotments during extreme weather events or natural disasters; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1954e067fed540adb2a59c2caf8e5046"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any other opportunities determined to be appropriate by the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id80d46864857d44389e479fc8a266eb26"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effect on existing grazing programs</header><text>Nothing in this section affects—</text><paragraph id="idcb376fe271af40d49039506699f19262"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any livestock grazing program carried out by the Secretary concerned as of the date of enactment of this Act; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id178bd62469364f03a4d8ba8a466e598e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any statutory authority for any program described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Workforce</header><section id="idb39680788a074aa2ba4fb4b74da1a009"><enum>301.</enum><header>Direct hire authority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary concerned may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/33">chapter 33</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a Job Corps graduate (as defined in section 142(5) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/3192">29 U.S.C. 3192(5)</external-xref>)) directly to a position for which the graduate meets Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.</text></section><section id="id839c695a9d0b4b1785bef8e8c736453f"><enum>302.</enum><header>Continuing accrual of service for firefighters</header><subsection id="idf86327c0e32d4ce1b5ff644a35211ec3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Federal Employees’ Retirement System</header><text>Section 8401(14) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7E9EFC08AA2644BB8FC381EC60694F98" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSEG00"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7cca94ef-4e86-11ef-89db-f1604ff059e3"><enum>(14)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>firefighter</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7cca94f0-4e86-11ef-89db-f1604ff059e3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an employee, the duties of whose position—</text><clause id="id7cca94f1-4e86-11ef-89db-f1604ff059e3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are primarily to perform work directly connected with the control and extinguishment of non-wildland fires; and</text></clause><clause id="id7cca94f2-4e86-11ef-89db-f1604ff059e3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are sufficiently rigorous that employment opportunities should be limited to young and physically vigorous individuals, as determined by the Director considering the recommendations of the employing agency; </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB5E9322CA3CB4970A9F627F8A9D29D4E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an employee, the duties of whose position—</text><clause id="id388B19079E7E4C908D11114DA18447BE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>are primarily to perform work directly connected with the control and extinguishment of wildland fires; and</text></clause><clause id="id25128C8788F5457CBAFE1210926A7205"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>are sufficiently rigorous that employment opportunities should be limited to young and physically vigorous individuals, as determined by the Director considering the recommendations of the employing agency; </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7cca94f3-4e86-11ef-89db-f1604ff059e3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an employee who— </text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf2c32747952249f8a2b1b15cce3f0a8b"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is transferred directly to a supervisory or administrative position after performing duties described in subparagraph (A) for at least 3 years; and</text></clause><clause id="id7C906F4C2EFF4C1CB5C8876483179639"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>while serving in such supervisory or administrative position, has no break in service; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id33F7DA179EE9425D89A84A4784A62BD1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an employee who—</text><clause id="idBF955B9E559841C7ACF7816E773D2032"><enum>(i)</enum><text>occupies a supervisory or administrative position after performing duties described in subparagraph (B) for not less than 3 years; and</text></clause><clause id="id0DA9A4C8D7A64B57AED39D5E5AC3CF9A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has not more than 24 months in total time of breaks in service;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id5dd3da2dfcea4e8f8593d61ab296f964"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Service before date of enactment</header><paragraph id="idfc41327f9a3948d6856fadccfe8e8911"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the requirements under paragraph (2), service performed before the date of enactment of this Act by an individual who, on the date of enactment of this Act, is an employee (as defined in section 8401(11) of title 5, United States Code) shall, for the purposes of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/84">chapter 84</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, be treated as service performed by a firefighter if—</text><subparagraph id="id57aa8950729b4c37ac642892989648cf"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such service was performed during the period beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on the day before the date of enactment of this Act;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4cf3bab55afd41f7a1a265bb629b3263"><enum>(B)</enum><text>at the time of performing such service— </text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb6691066fdd943649d7f07352dcf5066"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the individual did not meet the requirements to be a firefighter under section 8401(14) of title 5, United States Code, because of a break in service; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90133f351575415a90331a71260e58aa"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">would have met the requirements to be a firefighter under section 8401(14)(D) of title 5, United States Code, as amended by this Act; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0c6d1b94115b4a20b3eaaa7daff2ce67"><enum>(C)</enum><text>appropriate deductions and withholdings under sections 8422 and 8423 of title 5, United States Code, were made during such service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id44e414e80fea43b887ad1d3bd8c4e012"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Credit for service</header><text>To receive credit for eligible service under paragraph (1), the applicable individual shall—</text><subparagraph id="id19576937f5af4fdda8dcf2e29c27a7f2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>before the date on which the individual separates from service in the agency in which the individual holds a position on the date of enactment of this Act, submit a written election to the agency employing the individual;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf8c73e2e65ef4ca0b6c550881da80d37"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the individual is not employed by the agency that employed the individual when the service described in paragraph (1) was performed, submit a written election to such agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3aa3fceef03f49a18d96aafafa7fdde1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>remit to the agency that employed the individual when such service was performed the additional amount that would have been deducted during the period of prior service under section 8422 of title 5, United States Code, from the pay of the individual if the amendments made by subsection (a) had been in effect during the prior service, plus any applicable interest computed under section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idaf5de99c171c4f398e570d2a72d374ce"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Government contributions</header><text>If an individual remits payment under paragraph (2)(C) with respect to service described in paragraph (1), the agency that employed the individual when such service was performed shall remit to the Office of Personnel Management (for deposit in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund) the total additional amount of Federal contributions that would have been paid under section 8423 of title 5, United States Code, if the amendments made by subsection (a) had been in effect during the prior service, plus any applicable interest computed in accordance with section 8334(e) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideffd1416a0e14d13820fc02f67699c55"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Notification and assistance requirements</header><text>The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall—</text><subparagraph id="ida944da7edb29431c80f1ef71e2fa25ee"><enum>(A)</enum><text>take such action as may be necessary and appropriate to inform individuals entitled to have any service credited under this subsection, or to have any annuity computed under this subsection, of the entitlement to the credit or computation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id32f13ca94f0b4b708ef9b5a2382b5a85"><enum>(B)</enum><text>upon request, assist any individual described in subparagraph (A) in obtaining such information in the possession of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, as may be necessary to verify the entitlement of the individual to have any service credited, or to have any annuity computed, pursuant to this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7991ba77716a410a8d0ef41e7669ae31"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit or require the making of any contribution to the Thrift Savings Fund that would not otherwise have been permitted or required but for the enactment of this section. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id07e8bc213a7a4d9aa2d26fb0a754dc5d"><enum>303.</enum><header>Affordable housing for Federal wildland firefighters</header><subsection id="idc6cc8a5d34aa4c5b81ef0e55f5cef599"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>agency</term> and <term>quarters</term> have the meanings given the terms in section 5911(a) of title 5, United States Code.</text></subsection><subsection id="id72ca143de3f34e18aa89f264930476c5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modernizing rental regulations for Federal housing</header><text>Section 5911 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph id="id03859f9251a24e99997ad8c7a91740da"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (f), by inserting after the first sentence the following: <quote>In prescribing regulations under the previous sentence defining a dormitory (also known as a <term>bunkhouse</term> or <term>barracks</term>) in relation to other forms of quarters, the President shall do so based on the square footage and intended number of residents of the quarters and shall discount the square footage of any area devoted to official use.</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb1de75c9e8224918a098b5848bcfdb8c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbc9a44729c8242f3bc1c44d4a5f90bf1" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSEG00"><subsection id="idafa5c6f296db4fceb462f8408574f72d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The head of each agency shall, to the maximum extent practicable, maintain quarters under the jurisdiction of that agency that are rented by an employee in a safe and sanitary condition.</text></subsection><subsection id="id8b021c2f31cd44bc80753dae1d21269a"><enum>(j)</enum><text>For any quarters rented by an employee that experience a loss in available facilities—</text><paragraph id="id1fad97595e8f40c99d1414b24c009912"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the head of the agency that owns or leases the quarters shall attempt to repair or replace those facilities as soon as practicable; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id350d13bc398440488b3c8e8dfe7cb0ad"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the rental payments paid by the employee renting the quarters shall be immediately discounted commensurate to that loss in facilities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbe0e602fee27479ebb735c2ae6988c2c"><enum>(k)</enum><text>Notwithstanding section 5536, for any quarters that become uninhabitable due to a loss of facilities or other emergency circumstance, the head of the agency that owns or leases the quarters may provide alternative quarters and assess a rental rate not greater than the rate of the inhabitable quarters for a period of not longer than 28 days.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1096669c99854437bc0d94b41b756866"><enum>(l)</enum><text>Notwithstanding section 5536, the head of an agency may rent quarters owned or leased by that agency to an employee at a rate corresponding to full occupancy of those quarters, without regard to whether the quarters are fully occupied.</text></subsection><subsection id="idf6d614e4af5a4e72a96a2b3d95a41eda"><enum>(m)</enum><text>If quarters are not fully occupied by employees at any point during a period of more than 1 year, the head of the agency that owns or leases the quarters may, subject to the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, reduce the rental rate charged to an employee for those quarters by not more than 5 percent.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id23968f42cc354e93bf66d06d168a48a7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Accurate rental rates for housing</header><paragraph id="idc6b28739ae524d078208cb8d4060996e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Accuracy assessment of rent for remote housing</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a study of the determination of rental rates for quarters owned or leased by agencies that are—</text><subparagraph id="id7e83878a0bd34ea791d1b3c3cdf8ab51"><enum>(A)</enum><text>subject to a reduction in rental rates due to the remoteness of the quarters under the regulations promulgated under Circular A–45R of the Office of Management and Budget, as revised on November 25, 2019 (referred to in this subsection as <quote>Circular A–45R</quote>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idac5b2aac3a8548cd95014553e99cfb01"><enum>(B)</enum><text>located in an area that receives a different locality-comparability payment under section 5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States Code, than the nearest established community for those quarters, as determined under the regulations promulgated under Circular A–45R.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc0a6e29df62048b8913226bbcb7ae681"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Analysis</header><text>In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United States shall analyze—</text><subparagraph id="idbe5745f8b0bd46dc9776a671d2edd933"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the extent to which rental rates for the quarters accurately reflect similar units offered for rent in local housing markets or housing markets of the nearest established community;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6928531d307948a1b344acc6804c4734"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the accuracy of rental rate adjustments relating to the remoteness of the quarters in making rental rates more reflective of rates in the local housing market, especially for any housing that can only be accessed through methods other than on a paved road; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4678467181034777b6f78069effa26d2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>whether the maximum allowable remoteness adjustment of 60 percent from similar units in the nearest established community is sufficient in cases of extremely remote housing to accurately reflect local housing markets.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id98a8d2a6a4b04a278e922d239b4bc0c8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In conducting the study required under paragraph (1) or the analysis required under paragraph (2), the Comptroller General of the United States may consult with—</text><subparagraph id="id261ac606f6264e98851795ed0e274e4f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the National Housing Council described in Circular A–45R;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id56109b37aee44e3c91e514313c36064c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1721b7fc82604947b243019139f39ec9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Secretary of Agriculture;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id38850c9892ef45aaad40d31385d08d6d"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Interior; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8962c4545d6a414f8585ce230ac5c62d"><enum>(E)</enum><text>any other agency that owns or leases quarters.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida31e30451fb146e19d2135a05c91f5f9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Remediation</header><subparagraph id="ida09aa7f402ea41a7af7b713edee9b6f6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the completion of the study required under paragraph (2), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall review the regulations promulgated under Circular A–45R and, if necessary, revise the regulations to remedy, to the maximum extent practicable, any discrepancies between established rental rates for quarters and the market rate for those quarters.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id610a974c30e943cf925852eea5a99988"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Factors for consideration</header><text>The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in completing any review or revision under subparagraph (A), shall consider the best available evidence, including the survey and analysis by the Comptroller General of the United States under paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3e305cc1a6ad488488c83c6235924da3"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Nonapplication</header><text>The requirement under subparagraph (A) to revise regulations promulgated under Circular A–45R shall not apply if the Director of the Office of Management and Budget certifies that remedying the discrepancies described in subparagraph (A) would result in increased rental rates, on average, for quarters.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc0b92ff96a8d417b9ac4b9d9197efee2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Affordability of housing for wildland firefighters</header><paragraph id="idc7bc826f0b64424eb07dcdeebc4f0a2b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Reporting on expensive firefighter housing</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the revision of regulations under subsection (c)(4)(A), or the certification under section (c)(4)(C), the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall prepare a report that establishes a list of any quarters owned or leased by that Secretary that—</text><subparagraph id="id25cd0eecf4eb40acba8dfa5891870a77"><enum>(A)</enum><text>as of the date on which the report is prepared, are rented, or are intended for rent, primarily by a wildland firefighter; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3df91281a3f9425e8d187b8fcdede2cd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have a rental cost that exceeds 30 percent of—</text><clause id="id596a248f72314889957fd56828879d3d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the rate of basic pay for that wildland firefighter, or any special rate of basic pay established for that wildland firefighter, plus any locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 or 5304a of title 5, United States Code; or</text></clause><clause id="id7e3d243198074dad80c266b0df462fc0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for a prevailing rate employee described in section 5342(a)(2)(A) of that title in a position for which the duties of the position relate primarily to wildland fires, the wage rate of that employee.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3c62257dd3144893ac146c7ddaef091f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Remediation</header><text>For any quarters included on the list required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, shall prepare a plan to reduce the rental costs for those quarters, including by—</text><subparagraph id="idba652057e4c14e14a1d974a7d3da23e4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reducing the rental costs for such housing under the authority provided in subsection (m) of section 5911 of title 5, United States Code, as added by this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1aed864bf4f24ebd84adaf8a97983322"><enum>(B)</enum><text>using the authorities provided by—</text><clause id="idde4811a7f86b43c889d58c7bbb6ae0ce"><enum>(i)</enum><text>section 8623 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/580d">16 U.S.C. 580d</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/334">Public Law 115–334</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="idada3a38ff98343f4a2922e577d7123db"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>subchapter III of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/54/1013">chapter 1013</external-xref> of title 54, United States Code; or</text></clause><clause id="id6c12535748394bc6a6037cb13ccbe52d"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>section 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/742f">16 U.S.C. 742f</external-xref>); or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id40c4fdff941d4cb99ec0c310bd85720e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other applicable authorities to construct or lease housing.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id70cf2b21696d4ce4b6ff091ad55c837d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Temporary remediation</header><subparagraph id="id910a001ba88f489d9b9a5520339c4c2c"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Time table required</header><text>Each remediation plan prepared under paragraph (2) shall include a timeline for implementing the plan.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb6fefcd201014e9c868ee5bd57255c7d"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Rental cap</header><text>Notwithstanding the requirements of section 5536 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary of Agriculture or Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, may establish a cap on rental costs for a wildland firefighter or prevailing rate employee in a position for which the duties of the position relate primarily to wildland fires that inhabits quarters subject to a remediation plan under paragraph (2), which shall be not more than 30 percent of—</text><clause id="idbd707e8692f743119219880c560e03df"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the rate of basic pay for that wildland firefighter, or any special rate of basic pay established for that wildland firefighter, plus any locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 or 5304a of that title; or</text></clause><clause id="idbc48c7b1edad4f0cae81447fa61e2c2e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for a prevailing rate employee described in section 5342(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, the wage rate of that employee.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc9885ba6614445c3807e06aa4e85cff0"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Rental cap duration</header><text>The duration of any rental cap imposed under subparagraph (B) shall not exceed the timetable identified under subparagraph (A) for implementation of the applicable remediation plan prepared under paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6857aad2ffe244ddbda8fefbd12a6df5"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Rental cap renewal</header><text>A rental cap, the duration of which has expired under subparagraph (C) because of implementation delays for the applicable remediation plan prepared under paragraph (2), may be renewed for periods of not longer than 2 years, if the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, submits an explanation of the reason for the implementation delays to—</text><clause id="id53480466834e48aabbcc4f37ffa2e0d4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="ide7cbd780d8ba46c7b61d4927dd4e123e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="id5de29b01738543d286866a147f5d5667"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="idd845825cd2c0404ca66f58a0483f9ccf"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="id5aa240a133e6448b8b23c5f9ffb82441"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;</text></clause><clause id="id7413bde7028e406c9475b6b2b91f0660"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;</text></clause><clause id="id23f0ee869b144d9a933ec411b8abd12b"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives; and</text></clause><clause id="id066ee474c6da428c8c3984a3b355e204"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. </text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Cultural change in agencies</header><section id="ideec21429-50b7-441c-955b-02f5922399d4"><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 Federal land that contains land described in section 102(5), the Secretary concerned shall use not fewer than 1 of the following streamlined authorities for environmental review:</text><paragraph id="id4d0f2181-3550-4a82-9907-2e2a4ee8daec"><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="idc710160e-db75-40d7-af6f-6089ff993112"><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="idcda229fc-b5fa-45b5-8600-aceef2f0805a"><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="idb8edd736-1dc9-4c86-8ffa-a9ce1d19cc14"><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="id17166ab1-3bae-40cd-9b78-f04204e81595"><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="ida8247864-0bed-48a4-a808-452be1641236"><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="id5c99f03cc6dc4beb8ad6179448430569"><enum>402.</enum><header>Public-private wildfire technology deployment and testbed partnership</header><subsection id="id2c20564bbe764440834f646686a8be6d"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id9c017aab2d6f4b729643191911f0ecb8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriate committees</header><text>The term <term>appropriate committees</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="idb907a3348148459a801b645f87847cf4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Energy and Natural Resources, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc164161b20f746a0a3c6eae98f736ccf"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committees on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfeaa861c8e184dca915cc92c68618e94"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered agency</header><text>The term <term>covered agency</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id57676db7f34a4b61995f615ca8173fd8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each Federal land management agency (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6801">16 U.S.C. 6801</external-xref>));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id021e3545322541878fb50e05a0120c40"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Department of Defense;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id122ad996bc8f41f5a2b5b58ab243afb6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id366665694109492b821f9e4f63c2d173"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the United States Fire Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d18764a55a34acc85507abf0581c9b9"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id472c4201d0274b69905d6cc4cccf1135"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5ff134aa16bb459ab24abec03602c93a"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0da19eeaa7074f518d08ec1732cec2c2"><enum>(H)</enum><text>any other Federal agency involved in wildfire response.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4339db15c3424a0386b66772f88264ab"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Covered entity</header><text>The term <term>covered entity</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id1d9bafbf71ee4f10a15dca9a1dac0f21"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a private entity;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6cf89ac347eb4b8f8aa4b4a023e5d368"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a nonprofit organization; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd5446baf5bce4041b94b97c6c236494e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idaad5fe1d8eb147e2a42b2caeb6d3b725"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Pilot Program</header><text>The term <term>Pilot Program</term> means the deployment and testbed pilot program established under subsection (b). </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9d4b74cdc09d4a9fa2add7482220eaf8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Secretaries</header><text>The term <term>Secretaries</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, acting jointly.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id381be6494c0f43f888bb22ec91810230"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in coordination with the heads of the covered agencies, shall establish a deployment and testbed pilot program for new and innovative wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation technologies.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide2129512b31f41db870e227418d9e888"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>In carrying out the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall—</text><paragraph id="id8c0754f16b4746f2855e96e4505e6a37"><enum>(1)</enum><text>incorporate the Pilot Program into an existing interagency coordinating group on wildfires;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7463f68394a24705b73ea5098851843b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in consultation with the heads of covered agencies, identify key technology priority areas with respect to the deployment of wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation technologies, including—</text><subparagraph id="idd860b1dee6bb4ea6aa9442e18eedee12"><enum>(A)</enum><text>hazardous fuels reduction activities or treatments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04dc7fd828614ab8b1dbd21b76f1cd75"><enum>(B)</enum><text>dispatch communications;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2c0870dfc07f4e718c4b4aa483e441ae"><enum>(C)</enum><text>remote sensing and tracking;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf65971f1c64e49729b5536182b13ed51"><enum>(D)</enum><text>safety equipment; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfbff22cb2b9a49818b00be5b4ccf16fe"><enum>(E)</enum><text>common operating pictures or operational dashboards; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3c1b72eee03e4ea6b0839a6f33190a9d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>connect each covered entity selected to participate in the Pilot Program with the appropriate covered agency to coordinate real-time and on-the-ground testing of technology during wildland fire mitigation activities and training.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida635d96d4f37497fa459c16947b5f8dd"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>To participate in the Pilot Program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries may require, which shall include a proposal to test technologies specific to key technology priority areas identified under subsection (c)(2).</text></subsection><subsection id="id8d3d631f9f9d4d4188fde3020008219c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Prioritization of emerging technologies</header><text>In selecting covered entities to participate in the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall give priority to covered entities developing and applying emerging technologies that address issues identified by the Secretaries, including artificial intelligence, quantum sensing, computing and quantum-hybrid applications, augmented reality, and 5G private networks and device-to-device communications supporting nomadic mesh networks, for wildfire mitigation.</text></subsection><subsection id="idcf5d87e497c6477f80c6733099b6d5c8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Outreach</header><text>The Secretaries, in coordination with the heads of the covered agencies, shall make publicly available the key technology priority areas identified under subsection (c)(2) and invite covered entities to apply to test and demonstrate their technologies to address those priority areas.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3191e326471d4fb491bdbb6cfcec5334"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Reports and recommendations</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter for the duration of the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall submit to the appropriate committees a report that includes the following with respect to the Pilot Program:</text><paragraph id="id07bdc47121c54284931bf1f46a89cf5f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A list of participating covered entities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2807104018eb4371a8a125e1ed781bb8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A brief description of the technologies tested by such covered entities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id83c21b60d496466890d5e94efba0b49a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>An estimate of the cost of acquiring the technology tested in the Pilot Program and applying it at scale.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfcc90c53e7dc4c82b68b5db23a020da5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Outreach efforts by Federal agencies to covered entities developing wildfire technologies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida485483efddd4e26b3695ed3ec260c55"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Assessments of, and recommendations relating to, new technologies with potential adoption and application at-scale in the wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation efforts of Federal land management agencies (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6801">16 U.S.C. 6801</external-xref>)).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idca43b67e647b4f2a90b56aac7fd8696e"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The Pilot Program shall expire on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act. </text></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id59bd3f7c-1d38-4393-8544-cf84566bd26c"><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="id84d6d40e-c160-4f6f-a42e-7125023ac870"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking subsection (h); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3de49984-c63b-40eb-bc41-87016a50c6ce" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h).</text></paragraph></section>November 21, 2024Reported with an amendment