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<dc:title>119 S4103 IS: Save Our Sequoias Act</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. Senate</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2026-03-16</dc:date>
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<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
<dc:rights>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.</dc:rights>
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<distribution-code display="yes">II</distribution-code><congress>119th CONGRESS</congress><session>2d Session</session><legis-num>S. 4103</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES</current-chamber><action><action-date date="20260316">March 16, 2026</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="S413">Mr. Padilla</sponsor> (for himself and <cosponsor name-id="S431">Mr. Curtis</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the <committee-name committee-id="SSEG00">Committee on Energy and Natural Resources</committee-name></action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title>To improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, and for other purposes.</official-title></form><legis-body style="OLC"><section id="H41DECE9ED45943FE965687F98CDAC564" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title; table of contents</header><subsection id="HF3D1585C35754686B5A9E75C0CFA4E3D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Short title</header><text>This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Save Our Sequoias Act</short-title></quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="H33FFCD893F364B758C4EA22AC3F5E12B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents for this Act is as follows:</text><toc><toc-entry level="section" idref="H41DECE9ED45943FE965687F98CDAC564">Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="HD01D407327374074BCE21F95712FE796">Sec. 2. Definitions.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="H203DD5571B3843B6B3420BF088B20C0B">Sec. 3. Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="H0A2CB3F2B808444D86E945D34CC21D69">Sec. 4. Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="HEE6129D272FA489BA0D1CFCC55D3B884">Sec. 5. Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="HC7B4A58A57284371BEAD625C97617D7C">Sec. 6. Giant sequoia emergency response.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="H9150EAC7CEB84E11B9303F0A31D4E555">Sec. 7. Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="H4DAA8B9204754EC4AE797ED407B863B0">Sec. 8. Giant Sequoia Strike Teams.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="HFA4F735A6A014C639CCD7B8486F91573">Sec. 9. Giant sequoia collaborative restoration grants.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="HB720E619FFEC4BE28E76B234DCB1C233">Sec. 10. Giant sequoia insect monitoring and technology.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="HD9F5506C5044431984FF868B139EACC0">Sec. 11. Stewardship contracting for giant sequoias.</toc-entry><toc-entry level="section" idref="H62016151423148EB80B588BE594B0898">Sec. 12. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.</toc-entry></toc></subsection></section><section id="HD01D407327374074BCE21F95712FE796"><enum>2.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this Act:</text><paragraph id="HE64BDC235AA742DEB4D637FE5D1109D3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assessment</header><text>The term <term>Assessment</term> means the Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment required by section 5.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC3913C345FB84158946C9B0966FE4DB1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coalition</header><text>The term <term>Coalition</term> means the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition codified under section 4(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC4D7363007E04DAAAA91233860DB8892"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Collaborative process</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>collaborative process</term> means a collaborative process as described in section 4003(b)(2) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/7303">16 U.S.C. 7303(b)(2)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H12402E925100420BB9116AE6975A4BFD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Covered national forest system lands</header><text>The term <term>covered National Forest System lands</term> means the proclaimed National Forest System lands reserved or withdrawn from the public domain of the United States covering the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sierra National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB49A264FDF1D4561B45B426B1296740D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Covered public lands</header><text>The term <term>covered public lands</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="HE23B9178F1A84B90AC7D2B429C183C50"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area in California managed by the Bureau of Land Management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H33E50A0A3E4F40408C3DF325B4502066"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park in California managed by the National Park Service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3A535978D14B4B3F8BB148E6A96D9CF2"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Giant sequoia</header><text>The term <term>giant sequoia</term> means a tree of the species Sequoiadendron giganteum.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6BFA20C720374C6C9E4092B35AFA2E7D"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Protection project</header><text>The term <term>Protection Project</term> means a Giant Sequoia Protection Project carried out under section 6.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H72A629A1623D4D4692D26B8EFBDBD0A4"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Reforestation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>reforestation</term> means the act of renewing tree cover, taking into consideration species composition and resilience, by establishing young trees through—</text><subparagraph id="H5DB99A6E1C8C4912BDEE4CA79F3FEDE1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>natural regeneration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H325D47354FB041849219B2EBF8E8DDD9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>natural regeneration with site preparation and vegetation competition control; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H33AABA62041E4B7391D9A87166A9C7E9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>planting or direct seeding.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H19A27C1E7F054E4ABCB170AA0CB1CDAE"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Rehabilitation</header><text>The term <term>rehabilitation</term> means any action taken during the 5-year period beginning on the last day of a wildland fire to repair or improve fire-impacted lands which are unlikely to recover to management-approved conditions.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF08F80DBDDDD41E78CDE03C0310B8988"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Relevant congressional committees</header><text>The term <term>relevant Congressional Committees</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="H5F5D26C73D764B2592CC7A8ED8B2D081"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3C0AAA7920C64C9286BDFA58C14C17C2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Appropriations of the Senate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H766220D6B6CD44C488F8AF8F583D8A8F"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Responsible official</header><text>The term <term>responsible official</term> means an employee of the Department of the Interior or Forest Service who has the authority to make and implement a decision on a proposed action.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEE1BBF05E2134170A304C9CAF9DD4B6B"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of the Interior.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H15C750EC831F4B81BB0EF92DCECDE253"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Secretary concerned</header><text>The term <term>Secretary concerned</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="H42483BC4827D4C6E969BFC39689DE44E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to covered National Forest System lands, or their designee; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B91C6A7754B4FCF8DDFEBCF80FB007D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to covered public lands, or their designee.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD9CDCD0239194905A8AC46C2664E5D72"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Strategy</header><text>The term <term>Strategy</term> means the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy established under section 7.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F8ECB17FC394E7E86E562B7F49B7A7E"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Strike team</header><text>The term <term>Strike Team</term> means a Giant Sequoia Strike Team established under section 8.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDB87BA4332AC40B49B8F8F4F4C783AB7"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Tribe</term> means the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H203DD5571B3843B6B3420BF088B20C0B"><enum>3.</enum><header>Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias</header><subsection id="H19E01BEE40FF4B01AF4A81353381723A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after receiving a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe, the Secretary shall enter into or expand an existing shared stewardship agreement or enter into a similar agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Governor of the State of California, and the Tribe to jointly carry out the short-term and long-term management and conservation of giant sequoias.</text></subsection><subsection id="H22A711FF1FD04613A198138EB76F3B09"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Participation</header><paragraph id="HE4FC9E4B4F9B4FA8806475C3F0AD791C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If the Secretary has not received a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe under subsection (a) before the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into the agreement under subsection (a) and jointly implement such agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1ADEF258AC57489097A544F327F29290"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Future participation</header><text>If the Secretary receives a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe any time after entering into the agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall accept the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe as a party to such agreement.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H0A2CB3F2B808444D86E945D34CC21D69"><enum>4.</enum><header>Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition</header><subsection id="H7B5D100131DE489E966F98528FC5A314"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Codification</header> <text>The Coalition is the entity established under the charter titled <quote>Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition Charter</quote> (or successor charter) signed during the period beginning June 2, 2022, and ending August 2, 2022, by each of the following:</text>
        <paragraph id="HB11ED51E1AF840E3816D214D99D4E049">
          <enum>(1)</enum>
 <text>The National Park Service, representing Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="HF368C4A4FBD84F4C8747276C04CC3E30">
          <enum>(2)</enum>
 <text>The National Park Service, representing Yosemite National Park.</text> </paragraph> <paragraph id="HEFD7C84665064FAA9A45172A012375BB"> <enum>(3)</enum> <text>The Forest Service, representing Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="HC2566F0A2A6B4DB5876E846E9655AB1B">
          <enum>(4)</enum>
 <text>The Forest Service, representing Sierra National Forest.</text> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H218DAAA220E6420D831C43642C133FAA"> <enum>(5)</enum> <text>The Forest Service, representing Tahoe National Forest.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="HA6F3D694DA8D48069B2AA9177799D335">
          <enum>(6)</enum>
 <text>The Bureau of Land Management, representing Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="HCE03710BD942449F8D29814165C9D480">
          <enum>(7)</enum>
 <text>The Tribe, representing the Tule River Indian Reservation.</text> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H2EF8A5F72138464595F1C74262DAE500"> <enum>(8)</enum> <text>The State of California, representing Calaveras Big Trees State Park.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="H51E66108FFB54DE2844C0874C963D34A">
          <enum>(9)</enum>
 <text>The State of California, representing Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="H471EAB59BB9D44C4ADBD866CED705895">
          <enum>(10)</enum>
 <text>The University of California, Berkeley, representing Whitaker’s Research Forest.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="H4FDCB3770D2840E4BD99FF5A136C5905">
          <enum>(11)</enum>
 <text>The County of Tulare, California, representing Balch Park.</text> </paragraph> </subsection><subsection id="H8489A916D39145B384864AE9E19223FF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In addition to the duties specified in the charter referenced in subsection (a), the Coalition shall—</text><paragraph id="H837B580DE7414E489BF40CE273E0FF39"><enum>(1)</enum><text>produce the Assessment under section 5;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE9C01F8D3D2E4D84885D10ACE6CA969E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>observe implementation, and provide policy recommendations to the Secretary concerned, with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="H8712035BDC9A4B0D8E33A9547F59A3BA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Protection Projects carried out under section 6; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD38D9CF77115429A9533F52AC218D396"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>the Strategy established under section 7;</text>
 </subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEB0A0DE049D1480F96DDE7E78228EF7C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitate collaboration and coordination on Protection Projects, particularly projects that cross jurisdictional boundaries;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCEC31091847F4DA0AE8190BE558400D8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>facilitate information sharing, including best available science as described in section 5(d) and mapping resources; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBCD8D8552BC94654A4659AC62AFC7F07"><enum>(5)</enum><text>support the development and dissemination of educational materials and programs that inform the public about the threats to the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves and actions being taken to reduce the risk to such groves from high-severity wildfire, insects, and drought.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5731928735D84761A526D40EF1C8D897"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administrative support, technical services, and staff support</header><text>The Secretary shall make personnel of the Department of the Interior available to the Coalition for administrative support, technical services, development and dissemination of educational materials, and staff support that the Secretary determines necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="H4C35AF112DDE43F4B52110D55A2C837A"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Public Meeting requirement</header><paragraph id="H830F018020434E7BBB89F95F5FDF526A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Coalition shall provide for public observation at no less than one meeting annually.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC9C66A5E693249C781FC47FBAD06600C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Closed sessions</header><text>The Coalition may close portions of a meeting as provided in paragraph (1) to the public only when discussion will involve—</text><subparagraph id="H5965A31E8FC448129EE4548E5EBA5FE7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>sensitive law enforcement, security, or emergency response matters, the public disclosure of which would compromise public safety; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C6539A8947C4336BA2EF3F17C22AB31"><enum>(B)</enum><text>confidential commercial information, private property information, or landowner information.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HEE6129D272FA489BA0D1CFCC55D3B884"><enum>5.</enum><header>Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment</header><subsection id="H630D52EEF4514FD984A782E584A9E360"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Coalition shall submit to the relevant Congressional Committees a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment that, based on the best available science—</text><paragraph id="HD128DF61EF2E4D33892E2E899089C3D9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifies—</text><subparagraph id="HE153A0ED17B44C958E8785D538651DF1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each giant sequoia grove that has experienced a—</text><clause id="H2F48F96ABA6F4670BF0214A3C8428C33"><enum>(i)</enum><text>stand-replacing disturbance; or</text></clause><clause id="H0E56DBC6DC6340B48DAACFCD97CE1664"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>disturbance but continues to have living giant sequoias within the grove, including identifying the tree mortality and regeneration of giant sequoias within such grove;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF3675E1BDB4F412583D4D8854F7A794F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>each giant sequoia grove that is at high risk of experiencing a stand-replacing disturbance;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9FC43742CAC74BC8A05F6F9AD859E204"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">lands—</text><clause id="H8A4F331CD05B4D6D938E7A9DC1113DAE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>contiguous or adjacent to giant sequoia groves that are at risk of experiencing high-severity wildfires that could adversely impact such giant sequoia groves; or</text></clause><clause id="H4298D78C58C84C20B253B6E3CCC7C7BB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in which the placement of fuel breaks could reduce the risk of high-severity wildfires that could adversely impact giant sequoia groves; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB73C571162D489E8083F87327BE0058"><enum>(D)</enum><text>each giant sequoia grove that has experienced a disturbance and is unlikely to naturally regenerate and is in need of reforestation;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB514349607EF4B70A9B8E108DCCEBF88"><enum>(2)</enum><text>analyzes the resiliency of each giant sequoia grove to threats, such as—</text><subparagraph id="HDF3A5E24347B48B9B97FBFCDD1E0EDF2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>high-severity wildfire;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8BB978D4E2584D4ABA579C45A3ED058B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>insects, including beetle kill; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1E6E9567008F45A2A19371374A46F94E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>drought;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6727CD564BE64502974E5B22E4635CD0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>examines how historical, Tribal, or current approaches to wildland fire suppression and forest management activities across various jurisdictions have impacted the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="H45541698C2C9472AAA620644C46AD860"><enum>(A)</enum><text>high-severity wildfires;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84A8655C4E134694B9B37C65CB23CBBD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>insects, including beetle kill; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5E43D31AE564D5C87D552B393FD0593"><enum>(C)</enum><text>drought; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1308CE57DCFB4979BB91791F3A562A99"><enum>(4)</enum><text>includes program and policy recommendations that address—</text><subparagraph id="H9404E4E5DAE74584A6EA031C1BDF466B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>options to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration, particularly for cross-boundary projects, to improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD5CE5EE30BE040BCBD04B436E26BC909"><enum>(B)</enum><text>research gaps that should be addressed to improve the best available science on the giant sequoias.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7461F2AA6F9B41159915C973B7DBB99F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual updates</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the submission of the Assessment under subsection (a), and annually thereafter, the Coalition shall submit an updated Assessment to the relevant Congressional Committees that—</text><paragraph id="H9308DABFAC5A4064A4A069E258EA664A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>includes any new data, information, or best available science that has changed or become available since the previous Assessment was submitted;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAF665A88D85C4F87BFD03494B3EAD84C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to Protection Projects—</text><subparagraph id="HF0B869FB01684AD49BA702ADB64464F1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes information on the number of Protection Projects initiated the previous year and the estimated timeline for completing those projects;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB20B53D4EB343389A97FEA17F997229"><enum>(B)</enum><text>includes information on the number of Protection Projects planned in the upcoming year and the estimated timeline for completing those projects;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB719CA14EDE64CB9B2A7A5914CDDD681"><enum>(C)</enum><text>provides status updates and long-term monitoring reports on giant sequoia groves after the completion of Protection Projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F892D28CF4141B6A24DCDC23D31BE3F"><enum>(D)</enum><text>if the Secretary concerned failed to reduce hazardous fuels in at least 3 giant sequoia groves in the previous year, a written explanation that includes—</text><clause id="H1D5AB7D92109492393F6A0AF932BEBA5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a detailed explanation of what impediments resulted in failing to reduce hazardous fuels in at least 3 giant sequoia groves; and</text></clause><clause id="H4D8BF54E818C4B5B9798ACE50D9738A3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a detailed explanation of what actions the Secretary concerned is taking to ensure that hazardous fuels are reduced in at least 3 giant sequoia groves the following year; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H77D73719A7884AF3A8251DDF525DEF60"><enum>(3)</enum><text>with respect to reforestation and rehabilitation of giant sequoias—</text><subparagraph id="HEAD1D042769B4E73B20AD01D8414823D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>contains updates on the implementation of the Strategy under section 7, including grove-level data on reforestation and rehabilitation activities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H83CAA085508C4295A1262712EA619BCC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provides status updates and monitoring reports on giant sequoia groves that have experienced reforestation or rehabilitation as part of the Strategy under section 7.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H53C0D23E9F7C4CB69943F84987AB9638"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Dashboard</header><paragraph id="HA855517CB4B542BBA1BAE217B43DD290"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requirement to maintain</header><text>The Coalition shall create and maintain a website that—</text><subparagraph id="H347382BC836D4EAE8E410F742E74CD68"><enum>(A)</enum><text>publishes the Assessment, annual updates to the Assessment, and other educational materials developed by the Coalition;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2235DF1905B8450D949C51C6B3D78F0B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>contains searchable information about individual giant sequoia groves, including the—</text><clause id="HF3465621636C4EBC8712EE1FDBFDCE44"><enum>(i)</enum><text>resiliency of such groves to threats described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a);</text></clause><clause id="H142D1F91084645349FE818938B22B815"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Protection Projects that have been proposed, initiated, or completed in such groves; and</text></clause><clause id="H1CF359ABEDA34733923458C9C7B75A57"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>reforestation and rehabilitation activities that have been proposed, initiated, or completed in such groves; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H69554A77932B4FA6B58F28308B0925F1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>maintains a searchable database to track—</text><clause id="H8FF6B4B6968549EEA4AC57492BF0397C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the status of Federal environmental reviews and authorizations for specific Protection Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation activities; and</text></clause><clause id="HFC5DFB1BF60E40A29D68881EA8911E0A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the projected cost of Protection Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation activities.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H55993BBCBD75481CA18BA7FFE9B6BA67"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Searchable database</header><text>The Coalition shall include information on the status of Protection Projects in the searchable database created under paragraph (1)(C), including—</text><subparagraph id="HBB71CC3B28D14D93970294A30CD58DC2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a comprehensive permitting timetable;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H21A9CA422D604EDD9197D6553B5E082B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the status of the compliance of each lead agency, cooperating agency, and participating agency with the permitting timetable;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4FE628E5025B400C80BDE6F52049D014"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any modifications of the permitting timetable required under subparagraph (A), including an explanation as to why the permitting timetable was modified; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H71444B2137044EA0B25F3D6557C64699"><enum>(D)</enum><text>information about project-related public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods, which shall be presented in English and the predominant language of the community or communities most affected by the project, as that information becomes available.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0CACD9AD24A04CF3999733445451AD20"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Best available science</header><text>In utilizing the best available science for the Assessment, the Coalition shall include—</text><paragraph id="H88358EADEE8345859C78A29D4D7555C7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>data and peer-reviewed research from academic institutions with a demonstrated history of studying giant sequoias and with experience analyzing distinct management strategies to improve giant sequoia resiliency;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1CDE901192E645829F3F73A48F694AD7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>traditional ecological knowledge from the Tribe related to improving the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB4C6B393288747C384E9B50AEC96F3E5"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">data from Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments or agencies, and other interested stakeholders with a demonstrated history of studying giant sequoias and with experience analyzing distinct management strategies to improve giant sequoia resiliency.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC04330F82FBB414B93E2E2BA0FF00B53"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Technology improvements</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary may enter into memorandums of understanding or agreements with other Federal agencies or departments, State or local governments, Tribal governments, private entities, or academic institutions to improve, with respect to the Assessment, the use and integration of—</text><paragraph id="H5F980D9CB0D740A1A95D2E6DD2777069"><enum>(1)</enum><text>advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA0838E58537342B6BB15ED89C24DCAC0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>statistical modeling and analysis; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD3D94471BD20446887735F56B1FBE7E1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any other technology the Secretary determines will benefit the quality of information used in the Assessment.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDA75BDD8B05F48A7ACB306493A431F78"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Planning</header><text>The Coalition shall make information from this Assessment available to the Secretary concerned and State of California to integrate into the—</text><paragraph id="H9E27369C855E40C78965D96956B8AB04"><enum>(1)</enum><text>State of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB4066D995391433FA7A8CF790AC27443"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy (or successor plan); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6544F49E169E4C3AA7C81406A78CDD8B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Department of the Interior’s Wildfire Risk Five-Year Monitoring, Maintenance, and Treatment Plan (or successor plan).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8F283D3C23F94F93B0A1F17066F53088"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Relation to the national environmental policy act of 1969</header><text>The development and submission of the Assessment under subsection (a) shall not be subject to 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="HC7B4A58A57284371BEAD625C97617D7C"><enum>6.</enum><header>Giant sequoia emergency response</header><subsection id="H563CECCEEF47429F861D2DA6B424D728"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Emergency response To protect giant sequoias</header> <paragraph id="HF3C78A94F16F4835A2535F9023F6D0B1"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>In general</header> <subparagraph id="H3B3A80BB8DAE4CFEA25E89CE46626785"> <enum>(A)</enum> <header>Emergency determination</header> <text>Congress determines that—</text>
            <clause id="H348E5E7409734A6D8C4798ED7C80DA7C">
              <enum>(i)</enum>
 <text>an emergency exists on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands that makes it necessary to carry out Protection Projects that take needed actions to respond to the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought to giant sequoias; and</text>
            </clause>
            <clause id="H9F6EC8CD8AE9412E873A8B3A6A1A7ABA">
              <enum>(ii)</enum>
 <text>Protection Projects are necessary to control the immediate impacts of the emergency described in clause (i) and are needed to mitigate harm to life, property, or important natural or cultural resources on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands.</text>
            </clause>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H94256383BB644DCFBAC6A5D229F97019">
            <enum>(B)</enum>
            <header>Application</header>
 <text>The emergency determination established under subparagraph (A) shall apply to all covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H82708B67C2414E0A86B94C27507634D4">
            <enum>(C)</enum>
            <header>Expiration</header>
 <text>The emergency determination established under subparagraph (A) shall expire on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
          </subparagraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="H8E13AA944962462CBA0CAD69155784F6">
          <enum>(2)</enum>
          <header>Implementation</header>
 <text>While the emergency determination established under paragraph (1) is in effect, the following shall apply:</text>
          <subparagraph id="H1C02E3896A464805A4E213B64FBFC744">
            <enum>(A)</enum>
 <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned, acting through a responsible official, shall carry out Protection Projects on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands in accordance with this section, all applicable land management plans, and the laws (including regulations) applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="HFEE7096D29D54A4E9D88F16123220CBE">
            <enum>(B)</enum>
 <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A responsible official shall carry out Protection Projects in accordance with the following, as applicable:</text>
            <clause id="H50D70294ED1D402E947789F79C1CF4FF">
              <enum>(i)</enum>
 <text>Section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 2022), with respect to covered National Forest System lands.</text>
            </clause>
            <clause id="HA2ED1FC7DAD14BCEAA62ADAD2CAF9B5A">
              <enum>(ii)</enum>
 <text>Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect October 12, 2022), with respect to covered public lands.</text>
            </clause>
            <clause id="HA5CD8670661643AEA321AFF77EEBDCF5">
              <enum>(iii)</enum>
 <text>Section 402.05 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 2022), with respect to covered National Forest System lands and covered public lands.</text>
            </clause>
            <clause id="H3A3389158F5B402DB5E9C61B959AF2D1">
              <enum>(iv)</enum>
 <text>Section 800.12 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 2022), with respect to covered National Forest System lands and covered public lands.</text>
            </clause>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H3BB49AE7D9504592AD2B5A5A9295301C">
            <enum>(C)</enum>
 <text>The rules established under subsections (d) and (e) of section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592c">16 U.S.C. 6592c(d)</external-xref>, (e)) shall apply with respect to Protection Projects by substituting <quote>Protection Projects</quote> for <quote>authorized emergency action under this section</quote> each place it appears in such subsections.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H2723DA03C15747ACBBF877A88C7489EC">
            <enum>(D)</enum>
 <text>Protection Projects shall be subject to the requirements of section 106 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6516">16 U.S.C. 6516</external-xref>).</text>
          </subparagraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph id="HCFEAD98220D94DFF96F35BAD88D857A2">
          <enum>(3)</enum>
          <header>Protection projects</header>
 <text>The responsible official shall carry out the following forest management activities as Protection Projects under the emergency determination under this section:</text>
          <subparagraph id="H06AFCA352AE64C2CB555507410F52DE6">
            <enum>(A)</enum>
 <text>Conducting hazardous fuels management, including mechanical thinning, mastication, and prescribed burning.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H905CEE0B18554DA18B90C296EF24B9B4">
            <enum>(B)</enum>
 <text>Removing hazard trees, dead trees, or dying trees, as determined by the responsible official.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H0D0C7FCC6B014F719172A07561CFBF58">
            <enum>(C)</enum>
 <text>Removing trees to address overstocking or crowding in a forest stand, consistent with the appropriate basal area of the forest stand and the best available science, as determined by the responsible official.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H700AAB0335294FF29B46B4E2FCD9DA9D">
            <enum>(D)</enum>
 <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Activities to address insects, disease, invasive species, and vegetative encroachment of a giant sequoia grove.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H42088A1EAED24F2AB68420F4BA4C157E">
            <enum>(E)</enum>
 <text>Any combination of activities described in this paragraph.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H10921245A3054F0A9D84A0DAF2A20D79"> <enum>(4)</enum> <header>Requirements</header> <subparagraph id="H1BEBABE21C364899865884B33A7A373B"> <enum>(A)</enum> <header>In general</header> <text>Protection Projects carried out under paragraph (3) and reforestation and rehabilitation activities carried out under this Act that are described by subparagraph (C) are categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332</external-xref>).</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H1DFA56BFECEC46D58387238854212D67">
            <enum>(B)</enum>
            <header>Availability</header>
 <text>The Secretary concerned shall use the categorical exclusion established under subparagraph (A) in accordance with this section.</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H801B7CF7AE2D460D8D8B27705D457CB2">
            <enum>(C)</enum>
            <header>Requirements</header>
 <text>A Protection Project or reforestation or rehabilitation activity is described by this subparagraph if such Protection Project or reforestation or rehabilitation activity—</text>
            <clause id="H92F4AED63E594098A1FC210B4C02A6D3">
              <enum>(i)</enum>
 <text>covers an area of no more than—</text> <subclause id="H05C2C7F6DBF54FA7AB6877FF32343E57"> <enum>(I)</enum> <text>2,000 acres within giant sequoia groves; and</text>
              </subclause>
              <subclause id="HF8715FE47267443B9DAFFA11BE2CC7A0">
                <enum>(II)</enum>
 <text>3,000 acres on lands identified under section 5(a)(1)(C); and</text> </subclause> </clause> <clause id="HEF9CDA18E2364B418C76A496DB77C4C2"> <enum>(ii)</enum> <text>occurs on Federal land or non-Federal land with the consent of the non-Federal landowner.</text>
            </clause>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H632339844E4A4E578FD8329515D6CF3D">
            <enum>(D)</enum>
            <header>Extraordinary circumstances</header>
 <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The extraordinary circumstances procedures under provisions (e) through (g) of section 1b.3 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, shall apply to a Protection Project or reforestation or rehabilitation activity that is categorically excluded under subparagraph (A).</text>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H24EE5CEF91164FB5AE6B9EDBB7CECF86">
            <enum>(E)</enum>
            <header>Use of other authorities</header>
 <text>To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use the authorities provided under this section in combination with other authorities to carry out Protection Projects, including—</text>
            <clause id="H5FBE0AD2676A44DF88EA97D0CC77A770">
              <enum>(i)</enum>
 <text>good neighbor agreements entered into 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>); and</text>
            </clause>
            <clause id="H28D404A557D94EDBAF19E204F8EA7ED3">
              <enum>(ii)</enum>
 <text>stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>).</text>
            </clause>
          </subparagraph>
          <subparagraph id="H8B9A2E8DCED94B31B68246827CC2AD76">
            <enum>(F)</enum>
            <header>Savings clause</header>
 <text>With respect to joint Protection Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation activities involving the Tribe, nothing in this section shall be construed to add any additional regulatory requirements onto the Tribe.</text>
          </subparagraph>
        </paragraph>
 </subsection><subsection id="H92AD925948C3402490792DDB7E00B344"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall reduce hazardous fuels in no fewer than 3 giant sequoia groves each year.</text></subsection><subsection id="H78EFE60A2FF346A699BF81990DB771E0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Public notice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned shall provide notice of each Protection Project on a publicly available website maintained by the Secretary concerned.</text></subsection></section><section id="H9150EAC7CEB84E11B9303F0A31D4E555"><enum>7.</enum><header>Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy</header><subsection id="HDB9FB0448E584C60B20158FF2286F44F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reforestation and rehabilitation strategy</header><paragraph id="HE568D93F2A7940EC8A697FF22B500B50"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Coalition, shall develop and implement a strategy, to be known as the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy, to enhance the reforestation and rehabilitation of giant sequoia groves that—</text><subparagraph id="H37EA896F4D514DDC8BB20D38994E2F97"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identifies giant sequoia groves in need of reforestation or rehabilitation, giving highest priority to groves identified under section 5(a)(1)(A)(i);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA644E951AFF548B7B9B81BF8974C9878"><enum>(B)</enum><text>creates a priority list of reforestation and rehabilitation activities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE194F45545374E44813BE67EE54D8EBE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identifies and addresses—</text><clause id="HCEC044D3AB27417184E806EDC7998FF8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>barriers to reforestation or rehabilitation, including—</text><subclause id="HCD0F972BBB6B42AEB3A4641FBBB6AB39"><enum>(I)</enum><text>regulatory and funding barriers;</text></subclause><subclause id="H1A3D63AA595946279668EE3A162F32B5"><enum>(II)</enum><text>seedling shortages or related nursery infrastructure capacity constraints;</text></subclause><subclause id="H8B28A3D21AE34F13953123D39A4E0718"><enum>(III)</enum><text>labor and workforce shortages;</text></subclause><subclause id="H9730A32674D348D0A67DC38CB5A2A2C5"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>technology and science gaps; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H5EFBEBC84A614E4DAEE56685E8B94401"><enum>(V)</enum><text>site preparation challenges;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HE52662A675004D13B6ECAA673CB7A882"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>potential public-private partnership opportunities to complete high-priority reforestation or rehabilitation projects;</text></clause><clause id="HB964307459394DBD8D6FC2B48071B6B4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a timeline for addressing the backlog of reforestation for giant sequoias in the 10-year period after the agreement is entered into under section 3; and</text></clause><clause id="H73D69C8EC07742C393213D53B8271111"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>strategies to ensure genetic diversity across giant sequoia groves; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H494555FA33DC4866A20540DD0C6F6864"><enum>(D)</enum><text>includes program and policy recommendations needed to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of the Strategy.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H908876F2F4F34EAE95635250056E004E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Assessment</header><text>The Secretary may incorporate the Strategy into the Assessment under section 5.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE8AD811024EB4AA6A415C7F4B9B6C58E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Priority reforestation projects amendment</header><text>Section 3(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1601">16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HA70CCB9EDE7045E5A3106606A7F66B94"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in item (bb), by striking <quote>and</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9607509B3FCD40F4A8D1213F3B59BE93"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in item (cc), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE102D8D491EA4C379E539C04E9CB83E9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H268B2B00EC1644BEA12ACFB565A7FB8E" style="OLC"><subsection id="H4AD808D9D28F46A8AE685EB28E567170"><enum>(dd)</enum><text>shall include reforestation and rehabilitation activities conducted under section 7 of the <short-title>Save Our Sequoias Act</short-title>.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H4DAA8B9204754EC4AE797ED407B863B0"><enum>8.</enum><header>Giant Sequoia Strike Teams</header><subsection id="H61D3A3D6EE10405D9593CFF0CF07B320"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Giant sequoia strike teams</header><paragraph id="HF203C5FC2136486887B67D0BC733B3DA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall each establish a Giant Sequoia Strike Team to assist the Secretary concerned with the implementation of—</text><subparagraph id="H6384827E1A7C448CA543A6C4F3FF86A7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>primarily, section 6; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9E7AE90B2F5B4006AE1BCCCE13469AF5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>secondarily, section 7.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFF564632159A4AFFB7D79DFB72EC3468"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>Each Strike Team shall—</text><subparagraph id="HDC4DF7896D3A4BF289AE2CAD40CAA4A3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>assist the Secretary concerned with any reviews, including analysis 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>), consultations under division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>National Historic Preservation Act</quote>), and consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3AB77E09D1B54D9185378A0B8ADB88B5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>implement any necessary site preparation work in advance of or as part of a Protection Project or reforestation or rehabilitation activity;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9573D5A4B461427E86490D7D50238558"><enum>(C)</enum><text>implement Protection Projects under section 6; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H67A95F85B294401E949679DB41DE9441"><enum>(D)</enum><text>implement reforestation or rehabilitation activities under section 7.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBABCD1CD2ED94A07959F259E80D82E39"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Members</header><text>The Secretary concerned may appoint no more than 10 individuals each to serve on a Strike Team comprised of—</text><subparagraph id="HC7E0474F2B2F4F5DB6371E802DB84B13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>employees of the Department of the Interior;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H01C4166896E445A5951F20766267F500"><enum>(B)</enum><text>employees of the Forest Service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2DC6220729A94904B5F8F2EAA0B22824"><enum>(C)</enum><text>private contractors from any nonprofit organization, State government, Tribal Government, local government, academic institution, or private organization; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H045E2165BC8548FDBE78882C8DF3A1B9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>volunteers from any nonprofit organization, State government, Tribal Government, local government, academic institution, or private organization.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HFA4F735A6A014C639CCD7B8486F91573"><enum>9.</enum><header>Giant sequoia collaborative restoration grants</header><subsection id="H77FB5DA9E2DD4AD2BAC4277417F0BA4E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary, in consultation with the parties to the agreement under section 3, shall establish a program or expand an existing program to award grants to eligible entities to advance, facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.</text></subsection><subsection id="H04B0B1E2AAEF45B5949D672C721E79C1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><text>The Secretary may award grants under this section to any nonprofit organization, Tribal Government, local government, academic institution, or private organization to help advance, facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.</text></subsection><subsection id="HC38E472801824F97BB91C0E588AEA392"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—</text><paragraph id="H803CDF347ED940D5B1561E8B4DB8ED4C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>primarily, are likely to have the greatest impact on giant sequoia health and resiliency; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H76513693E9D2405D9315ECB2424EDDCA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>secondarily—</text><subparagraph id="H47C528F753AC49C9B6E78BEF959598D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are small businesses or Tribal entities, particularly in rural areas; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2F0FF18C9BC448108F688C0B8A2993F9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>create or support jobs, particularly in rural areas.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5DDEF1484C3445C68E1A6A751436B129"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of grant funds</header><text>Funds from grants awarded under this section shall be used to—</text><paragraph id="H6059975DEF5340308986F76F94E5EB35"><enum>(1)</enum><text>create, expand, or develop markets for hazardous fuels removed under section 6, including markets for biomass and biochar;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8A91615EAB654224BCA6340AADEA9747"><enum>(2)</enum><text>facilitate hazardous fuel removal under section 6, including by reducing the cost of transporting hazardous fuels removed as part of a Protection Project;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H21D490FE623040EA9D89861122CF93B7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>expand, enhance, develop, or create facilities or land that can store or process hazardous fuels removed under section 6;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H429A556E7E934B3BA418FF7870CDFB28"><enum>(4)</enum><text>establish, develop, expand, enhance, or improve nursery capacity or infrastructure necessary to facilitate the Strategy established under section 7; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F7D81587C6B4D9CAB119DA07A83AC56"><enum>(5)</enum><text>support Tribal management and conservation of giant sequoias, including funding for Tribal historic preservation officers.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HB720E619FFEC4BE28E76B234DCB1C233"><enum>10.</enum><header>Giant sequoia insect monitoring and technology</header><subsection id="HF44B59B9F3EC43CE9D26CC4AAC8DC793"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall—</text><paragraph id="H8630088171EF4CFEAE75F2A397587969"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop and implement a strategy for monitoring insects in giant sequoia groves with a high-risk or previous history of insect infestations; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFBEDF9E1A68F4B59BC14EFC4702189E7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>seek to enter into public-private partnerships to deploy technology to assist in the short-term and long-term monitoring of giant sequoia groves with current or potential insect infestations.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7B3F5DD20EF94743BBDAD5C0389647E8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall submit a report to the relevant Congressional Committees that contains—</text><paragraph id="H8E635E63CF874F6A9A7301BB56532D5E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the strategy required under subsection (a)(1);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB835DA5E58B04CE0AA7AF0A2BA1F0054"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an update on the effectiveness of the monitoring program in preventing or addressing insect infestations in giant sequoia groves; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA99A24CF63304DB190C459D376749FDC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>program and policy recommendations to further address—</text><subparagraph id="HC53B375581BA4560A19DB73782411FCE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>research gaps regarding giant sequoia resiliency to insects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H06F1E164EF8F49F49FED857EE63AF7C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>opportunities to improve the resiliency of giant sequoias to insects.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HD9F5506C5044431984FF868B139EACC0"><enum>11.</enum><header>Stewardship contracting for giant sequoias</header><subsection id="H0E74868F89B7454E91B3299BD182A330"><enum>(a)</enum><header>National park service</header><text>Section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HC19DD7A9A9A5472E9ED6303EDF659EE6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending subsection (a)(2) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="H0A5CA91A77164C69A14B470D1E251F02" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H7D8DC028C87D4C1A9FA971A14934848B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Director</header><text>The term <term>Director</term> means the Director of the Bureau of Land Management with respect to Bureau of Land Management lands and the Director of the National Park Service with respect to lands within Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HCFCB2FDF04EE4DBC8153CF25F023BAA2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b), by striking <quote>national forests and the public lands</quote> and inserting <quote>national forests, public lands, and lands within Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4823DF49F54B4155BC8A1995803AC589"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Giant sequoia stewardship contracts</header><text>Section 604(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="HB9C7FB79DCFE4943ADBE058EFF123526" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HED5FBBD147D845B2AFE656267305B7E0"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Promoting the health and resiliency of giant sequoias.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H1E8781E9C45848259E90FAAA5A138F89"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Stewardship contracting in certain national parks</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Stewardship contracting projects occurring in Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park shall be carried out in accordance with the laws (including regulations) applicable to the National Park Service, including section 100753 of title 54, United States Code.</text></subsection></section><section id="H62016151423148EB80B588BE594B0898"><enum>12.</enum><header>Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund</header><subsection id="H9D7F51D18DA54A04B1A4CCFB29DB8C6F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/54/1011">Chapter 1011</external-xref> of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H9A00D5B14C5044F983E6685BF3C53D20" style="USC"><section id="H8EEB91F10D6941DF9231BF9D90BC4F97"><enum>101123.</enum><header>Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund</header><subsection id="HE710CB0AEC5348CC82BF13D726CD3D8F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Giant sequoia emergency protection program</header><text>The National Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation and the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, shall design and implement a comprehensive program to assist and promote philanthropic programs of support that benefit—</text><paragraph id="H7BFB23EECD81493C9C413365757D58F2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>primarily, the management and conservation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA5CB5C4485A84FF08A6844F3426C4281"><enum>(2)</enum><text>secondarily, the reforestation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8E3B00BBACC74ED4BCAE27373173A800"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Giant sequoia emergency protection fund</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd63d8de790b344578d936521a868ec19"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation and the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, shall establish a joint special account to be known as the Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund (referred to in this section as the <quote>Fund</quote>), to be administered in support of the program established under subsection (a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H643E187693A94E4ABBD78F97151561A8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Funds for giant sequoia emergency protection</header><text>The Fund shall consist of any gifts, devises, or bequests that are provided to the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, or Foundation for America’s Public Lands for the purpose described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAD7A8A8D89954C7B924A527E977006E4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>Funds shall be available to the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America’s Public Lands without further appropriation, subject to the provisions in paragraph (4), for projects and activities approved by the Director of the National Park Service, Chief of the Forest Service, or Director of the Bureau of Land Management, as appropriate, or their designees, to—</text><subparagraph id="HC418063218F6417FA6F3399CEC595911"><enum>(A)</enum><text>primarily, support the management and conservation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA7390577CB244329B4A55A4A11B2E8B5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>secondarily, support the reforestation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2EA9444DB2164CC9831DC68B801D7F9C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Tribal support</header><text>Of the funds provided to the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America’s Public Lands under paragraph (3), not less than 15 percent of such funds shall be used to support Tribal management and conservation of giant sequoias, including funding for Tribal historic preservation officers.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5EE708D592AB4177BCD572B6A14734E6"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Summary</header><text>Beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America’s Public Lands shall include with their annual reports a summary of the status of the program and Fund created under this section that includes—</text><paragraph id="H617C003AC02D4CDB8B434CFA50D2DEFC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a statement of the amounts deposited in the Fund during the fiscal year;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFA7ED6A07835412C830A95324257E32B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the amount of the balance remaining in the Fund at the end of the fiscal year; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4A97687CF58C47DBB9A25A57D7826A7D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a description of the program and projects funded during the fiscal year.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2B68ECB0A11B498489971121FE27C681"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section, the terms <term>covered public lands</term> and <term>covered National Forest System lands</term> have the meaning given such terms in section 2 of the <short-title>Save Our Sequoias Act</short-title>.</text></subsection><subsection id="HC71FCA66D6E3420C90DE48606250C70D"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Termination of effectiveness</header><text>The authority provided by this section shall terminate 7 years after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Save Our Sequoias Act</short-title>.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H40DFE5B558F34C4FA438B52BF62CAB6F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/54/1011">chapter 1011</external-xref> of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="H6D1B9551882947A2AA8A769208FE58E0" display-inline="no-display-inline"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section></legis-body></bill>

