### §2693. Sentinel Landscapes Partnership

(a) Establishment.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that elect to become full partners in the program, may establish and carry out a program to preserve and restore sentinel landscapes. The program shall be known as the "Sentinel Landscapes Partnership".

(b) Designation of Sentinel Landscapes.—The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that elect to become full partners in the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership may, as such Secretaries and other heads determine appropriate, collectively designate one or more sentinel landscapes.

(c) Coordination of Activities.—In carrying out this section, the Secretaries and the other heads of Federal departments and agencies may coordinate actions between their departments and agencies and with other Federal, State, interstate, and local agencies, Indian Tribes, and private entities to more efficiently work together for the mutual benefit of conservation, resilience, working lands, and national defense, and to encourage owners and managers of land to engage in voluntary land management, resilience, and conservation activities that contribute to the sustainment of military installations, State-owned National Guard installations, and associated airspace.

(d) Priority Consideration.—In carrying out this section, the Secretaries and the other heads of Federal departments and agencies may give to any eligible owner or manager of land within a designated sentinel landscape priority consideration for participation in any easement, grant, or assistance program administered by that Secretary or head. Participation by an eligible owner or manager of land in any such program pursuant to this section shall be voluntary.

(e) Participation by Other Agencies.—Other Federal agencies with programs addressing conservation or resilience may, and are encouraged to—

(1) participate in the activities of the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership; and

(2) become full partners in the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership.

(f) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section may be construed to require an owner or manager of land, including a private landowner or agricultural producer, to participate in any land management, resilience, or conservation activity under this section.

(g) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Military installation.—The term "military installation" has the same meaning as provided in section 100(1) of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670(1)).

(2) State-owned national guard installation.—The term "State-owned National Guard installation" has the same meaning as provided in section 100(3) of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670(3)).

(3) Sentinel landscape.—The term "sentinel landscape" means a landscape-scale area encompassing—

(A) one or more military installations or state-owned National Guard installations and associated airspace; and

(B) the publicly and privately owned lands that serve to protect and support the rural economy, the natural environment, outdoor recreation, and the national defense missions of a military installation or State-owned National Guard installation.

(4) Resilience.—The term "resilience" means the capability to avoid, prepare for, minimize the effect of, adapt to, and recover from extreme weather events, flooding, wildfire, or other anticipated or unanticipated changes in environmental conditions.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title III, §311(a), (b), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 213, 214.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Codification

Section, as added and amended by section 311(a) and (b) of Pub. L. 118–31, is based on Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title III, §317(a)–(f), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1351, 1352, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title III, §317(a), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1631, which was formerly set out as a note under section 2684a of this title before being transferred to this chapter and renumbered as this section. Another section 317(f) of Pub. L. 115–91 repealed section 312(b) of Pub. L. 113–66, see Termination of 2013 Amendment note under section 2684a of this title.

#### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2693, added Pub. L. 101–647, title XVIII, §1802(a), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4849; amended Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, §1048(a)(26)(A), (B)(i), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1224, 1225; Pub. L. 109–364, div. B, title XXVIII, §2825(b), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2476, related to conveyance of real property or facility for utilization under the correctional options program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 109–364, div. B, title XXVIII, §2825(c)(2), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2477. See section 2696(f) of this title.

Another prior section 2693 was renumbered section 2465 of this title.

#### Amendments

2023—Pub. L. 118–31, §311(a), transferred section 317 of Pub. L. 115–91, as amended, to this chapter and renumbered it as this section. See Codification note above.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(1), substituted ", the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that elect to become full partners in the program" for "and the Secretary of the Interior".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(2), substituted "the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that elect to become full partners in the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership may, as such Secretaries and other heads" for "and the Secretary of the Interior, may, as the Secretaries".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(3), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretaries may coordinate actions between their departments and with other agencies and private organizations to more efficiently work together for the mutual benefit of conservation, resilience, working lands, and national defense, and to encourage private landowners to engage in voluntary land management, resilience, and conservation activities that contribute to the sustainment of military installations, ranges, and airspace."

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(4), substituted "In carrying out this section, the Secretaries and the other heads of Federal departments and agencies may give to any eligible owner or manager of land within a designated sentinel landscape priority consideration for participation in any easement, grant, or assistance program administered by that Secretary or head." for "The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior may give to any eligible landowner or agricultural producer within a designated sentinel landscape priority consideration for participation in any easement, grant, or assistance programs administered by that Secretary's department." and "an eligible owner or manager of land" for "an eligible landowner or agricultural producer".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(6), added subsec. (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(5), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g).

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(7)(A), substituted "section 100(1) of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670(1))" for "section 670(1) of title 16, United States Code".

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(7)(B), substituted "section 100(3) of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670(3))" for "section 670(3) of title 16, United States Code".

Subsec. (g)(3)(B). Pub. L. 118–31, §311(b)(7)(C), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: "the working or natural lands that serve to protect and support the rural economy, the natural environment, outdoor recreation, and the national defense test and training missions of the military- or State-owned National Guard installation or installations."