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Forest Service February 2018 

United States Department of Agriculture 

FY 2019

Budget 

Justification
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis 

of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental 

status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an 

individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a 

complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer. 

 
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FY 2019 Budget Justification 

Table of Contents 

Budget Overview ........................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Legislative Proposals .......................................................................................................................... 3 

Administrative Provisions .................................................................................................................. 4 

General Provisions ............................................................................................................................. 6 

Purpose Statement .............................................................................................................................. 9 

Four-Year Summary of Appropriations ............................................................................................. 10 

Four-Year Summary of Full Time Equivalents .................................................................................. 13 

Revenue, Receipts and Transfers ....................................................................................................... 15 

Organization Chart ............................................................................................................................. 16 

Available Funds and Staff Years (SYs) .............................................................................................. 17 

Motor Vehicle Fleet Data ................................................................................................................... 18 

Permanent Positions by Grade and Staff Years .................................................................................. 20 

Shared Funding Projects ..................................................................................................................... 21 

Summary of Performance ................................................................................................................... 23 

Forest and Rangeland Research ................................................................................................................................... 27 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes ..................................................................... 27 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 27 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 28 

Justifications ....................................................................................................................................... 30 

Classification by Objects .................................................................................................................... 34 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 35 

Primary Authorities ............................................................................................................................ 37 

State and Private Forestry ............................................................................................................................................ 41 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes ..................................................................... 41 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 41 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 42 

Justifications ....................................................................................................................................... 44 

Classification by Objects .................................................................................................................... 50 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 51 

Primary Authorities ............................................................................................................................ 59 

National Forest System ................................................................................................................................................ 61 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes ..................................................................... 61 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 61 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 62 

Justifications ....................................................................................................................................... 64 

Classification by Objects .................................................................................................................... 72 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 73 

Primary Authorities ............................................................................................................................ 83 
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Capital Improvement and Maintenance ....................................................................................................................... 89 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes ..................................................................... 89 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 89 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 90 

Justifications ....................................................................................................................................... 92 

Classification by Objects .................................................................................................................... 95 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 96 

Primary Authorities ............................................................................................................................ 99 

Land Acquisition ....................................................................................................................................................... 101 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes ..................................................................... 101 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 101 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 102 

Justifications ....................................................................................................................................... 104 

Classification by Objects .................................................................................................................... 106 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 107 

Primary Authorities ............................................................................................................................ 108 

Other Appropriations ................................................................................................................................................. 109 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes ..................................................................... 109 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 109 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 110 

Justifications ....................................................................................................................................... 111 

Classification by Objects .................................................................................................................... 113 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 114 

Primary Authorities ............................................................................................................................ 115 

Wildland Fire Management ....................................................................................................................................... 117 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes ..................................................................... 117 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 118 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 119 

Justifications ....................................................................................................................................... 121 

Classification by Objects .................................................................................................................... 124 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 125 

Primary Authorities ............................................................................................................................ 130 

Permanent Appropriations ......................................................................................................................................... 133 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 133 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 134 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 136 

Payments to States .............................................................................................................................. 144 

Trust Funds ................................................................................................................................................................ 147 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement ............................................................................................................... 147 

Project Statements .............................................................................................................................. 147 

Status of Programs ............................................................................................................................. 148 
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Special Exhibits ......................................................................................................................................................... 151 

Biomass and Wood Innovations ......................................................................................................... 151 

California Tree Mortality ................................................................................................................... 154 

Chief’s Reserve Fund ......................................................................................................................... 156 

Cost Pool Totals ................................................................................................................................. 158 

Equal Access to Justice Act ................................................................................................................ 163 

Farm Bill Implementation .................................................................................................................. 175 

Fire Transfers ..................................................................................................................................... 178 

National Scenic and Historic Trails .................................................................................................... 180 

Office of General Counsel Reimbursement ........................................................................................ 184 

Region, Station, and Area Allocations ............................................................................................... 185 

Research and Development Field Unit Budget Report ....................................................................... 197 

Stewardship Contracting .................................................................................................................... 218 

Transition to Second Growth in Alaska ............................................................................................. 221 

Unobligated Balances ......................................................................................................................... 222 

USDA Working Capital Fund, Departmental Shared Cost Programs ................................................ 224 

Forest Service - Working Capital Fund .............................................................................................. 228 

 
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Budget Overview 

“The greatest good for the greatest number in the long run.” 

Gifford Pinchot, first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service (1905-1910) 

Mission – The USDA Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's 

forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. 

USDA Forest Service Priorities - In FY 2019, the Forest Service aligned its strategic and programmatic direction to 

address the risks and challenges the agency faces, and to support the broader Administration goals to maintain focus 

on the maintenance of the current National Forest System (NFS) lands, protect the nation’s interests from the 

impacts of wildland fire, share stewardship of the land, promote recreational access and opportunities on NFS lands, 

and generate jobs and economic benefits for rural communities. These priorities support USDA Strategic Goal 6: 

Ensure Productive and Sustainable Use of our National Forest System Lands. To ensure progress towards achieving 

the broader goals, five national priorities help guide Forest Service execution of the agency mission: 

 Uplift and empower Forest Service employees through a respectful, safe working environment. 

 Be a good neighbor and provide excellent customer service. 

 Promote shared stewardship by increasing partnerships and volunteerism. 

 Improve the condition of forests and grasslands. 

 Enhance recreation opportunities, improve access, and sustain infrastructure. 

Budget Overview – The 2019 Forest Service budget for discretionary appropriations is $4.77 billion, a decrease of 

$486 million from the FY 2018 annualized Continuing Resolution amount. It includes $1.72 billion for the 

management of National Forest System lands and $2.5 billion for Wildland Fire Management. Maintaining fiscal 

integrity of the agency while focusing on Administration goals and priorities required reductions in funding to 

Capitol Improvement and Maintenance, Research, Land Acquisition and State and Private Forestry Programs. 

Jobs and Economic Contribution – The FY 2019 budget proposal maintains significant Forest Service economic 

investment, benefitting many rural forest and grassland dependent communities and the nation as a whole. The 

Forest Service projects, based on most recent estimates, that its proposed program of work will contribute between 

340,000 and 370,000 (average annual full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal) jobs to the economy and 

between $30 billion and $31 billion in gross domestic product. This funding aligns with the priority to improve the 

condition of forests and grasslands and create jobs, and it supports USDA Strategic Goal 6 and its underlying 

objectives. 

National Forest System – In FY 2019, the National Forest System budget is proposed at $1.72 billion, including 

Hazardous Fuels funding. The significant funding levels in this account are: 

 $390 million proposed for Hazardous Fuels, an increase of $2.6 million from the FY 2018 Annualized 

Continuing Resolution funding level. The Hazardous Fuels program supports the agency’s emphasis on 

improving the condition of the Nation’s forests and grasslands while enhancing their resilience to the 

negative effects of wildland fire and directly contributes to USDA Strategic Goal 6 and its underlying 

objectives by furthering the productive and sustainable use of our National Forest System lands. 

 $341 million is proposed for Forest Products a decrease of $24 million from the FY 2018 Annualized 

Continuing Resolution funding level. Forest Products supports the Administration’s commitment to rural 

communities, jobs creation, shared stewardship, and the production of goods and services from NFS lands. 

This funding helps forests and grasslands to produce goods and services that people want and need, now 

and into the future. The Forest Products program supports USDA Strategic Objective 6.2: Ensure Lands 

and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive. 

 In FY 2019, the Forest Service will sell 3.7 billion board feet of timber while improving the ecological 

condition of more than 2.1 million acres of NFS lands. The Forest Service is working to improve the speed 

and agility in the planning and execution of land management actions including timber sales. Timber sales 

are an important tool for accomplishing resource management objectives in an ecologically and 

economically efficient manner while generating revenue to offset the costs of implementation, which 
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directly supports USDA Strategic Objective 6.2: to Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, 

and Productive. 

 $240 million is proposed for Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness a decrease of $22.6 million from 2018 

annualized Continuing Resolution funding level. The Forest Service provides sustainable recreation 

programs that support rural economies, meaningful outdoor experiences, and improve access. The Forest 

Service will maximize the return of funding investments by increasing volunteerism, improving customer 

service, increasing partnerships and working to “right size” recreation assets. This will encourage new 

businesses to support outdoor activities which will translate to jobs in rural communities and increase 

spending by visitors to the national forests, directly supporting USDA Strategic Objective 6.1 to contribute 

to the Economic Health of Rural Communities through Use and Access Opportunities. 

 In FY 2019, the Capital Improvement and Maintenance budget is nearly $95 million, a decrease of $267 

million below the FY 2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution funding level. The FY 2019 President’s 

Budget refocuses the Capital Improvement and Maintenance programs to manage existing infrastructure, 

primarily NFS passenger roads. 

Wildland Fire Management – In FY 2019, the Wildland Fire Management budget is proposed at $2.5 billion, an 

increase of $190 million above the FY 2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution funding level. Wildland Fire 

Management remains a top priority in the Forest Service and aligns with USDA Strategic Objective 6.3: Mitigate 

Wildfire Risk while contributing to overall accomplishment of USDA Strategic Goal 6. The significant funding 

levels in this account are: 

 $1.34 billion is proposed for Preparedness, which enables the Forest Service to maintain its existing 

firefighting capability and funds all base 8 salary costs for firefighters. 

 As part of a more standard structure for planning and budgeting, and in an effort to ensure funds are spent 

most effectively, significant shifts with regards to the number of aviation assets that are on both Exclusive 

Use contract and agency-owned are proposed. These actions will not reduce the overall capability of the 

Forest Service to respond to wildfires; rather they will ensure a more financially viable model for the 

maintenance and acquisition of aircraft. 

o FY 2018 will mark the last year the agency will support the HC-130H program that was 

authorized within the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. The FY 2019 budget request does 

not support the continued transfer of seven C-130-H aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard to the 

USDA Forest Service. 

o The FY 2019 budget requests cancellation of $65 million authorized in FY 2015 for the 

acquisition of a purpose built large airtanker. 

 $1.165 billion is proposed for Suppression which fully funds the rolling 10-year average expenditure for 

Suppression. Although this may appear to be a reduction from the FY 2018 Annualized Continuing 

Resolution funding level, it does not include funds for Base 8-hour salaries for firefighters as they were 

shifted to the Preparedness budget line item. 

 A new methodology for funding fire is proposed that will allow for the administration of emergency cap 

funding. In this proposal, the 10-year average will continue to be funded within the Suppression budget line 

and a new emergency fund will be established that is available to fund suppression expenditures in excess 

of the appropriated Suppression budget line item. 

 The Wildland Fire Research and Development budget line items is proposed to be moved to the Forest and 

Rangeland Research account, and National Fire Capacity (previously State Fire Assistance) and Rural Fire 

Capacity (previously Volunteer Fire Assistance) budget line items are proposed to be moved to the State 

and Private Forestry account. 

Shared Stewardship - In FY 2019, the Forest Service will increase partnerships and volunteerism in the spirit of 

shared stewardship, and work across boundaries to earn the greatest return on our investments with our appropriated 

funds. The Forest Service will collaborate with landowners, communities, and others to promote voluntary, 

landscape-scale conservation in rural and urban areas; support the growth and development of healthy ecosystems 

and vibrant, resilient communities; clean air and water; high-quality recreation; scenic character; forest products; 

cultural sites; and a full suite of habitats for plant, aquatic and wildlife species. This increased collaboration 

contributes to USDA Strategic Goal 6: Ensure Productive and Sustainable Use of our National Forest System 

Lands. 
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Legislative Proposals 

Wildfire Suppression Operations Fund: The FY 2019 President’s Budget does not request funding for the FLAME 

account; instead, the Budget proposes to fully fund the 10-year average for Suppression Operations within the 

discretionary budget caps, and proposes a new separate annual wildfire cap adjustment for additional budget 

authority for the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Wildland Fire. Similar to how 

other unanticipated funding needs for other natural disasters are addressed, the President’s Budget proposes a 

separate fund that will include an annual cap adjustment appropriation for wildfire suppression and ensure that 

adequate resources are available to fight wildland fires, protect communities, and safeguard human life during the 

most severe wildland fire seasons. 

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act Reauthorization (FLREA): The proposal is to reauthorize the Federal 

Lands Recreation Enhancement Act through September 30, 2021. This is an interagency proposal with the 

Department of the Interior. An interagency working group developed specific, mutually agreed upon language 

changes to the authority. The Triennial Report to Congress on Implementation of FLREA, published in May 2012, 

contained a number of “Considerations for the Future of the Program” which set the foundation for the Forest 

Service proposal. 

Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005 (FSFREA): The agency is requesting 

reauthorization for one year, until September 30, 2019. This would allow the Secretary to continue to convey 

administrative sites that the Forest Service no longer needs, and retain the proceeds from the sales for the 

acquisition, improvement, maintenance, reconstruction, or construction of facilities 

Small Tracts Act: The 1983 Small Tracts Act authorizes the Secretary to dispose of up to 40 acres of National Forest 

System (NFS) land by sale or exchange. This proposal would establish additional categories of National Forest 

System lands which the Secretary of Agriculture would be authorized to sell, interchange or exchange if in the 

public interest. It would also increase the minimum value of the land that could be conveyed from $150,000 to 

$500,000 to better align with current land values. Proceeds from the sale of National Forest System lands under this 

proposed authority will continue to be collected under the Sisk Act, and may be used for acquisition of resource 

lands or administrative facilities. 

Grazing Permits: The proposal would provide an amendment to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 

(FLPMA) to correct the National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA) amendment to FLPMA Section 402. For this 

section only, all National Forest System lands would be included so that those lands in eastern States and National 

Grasslands are covered by the NDAA and are treated equally in NEPA analysis of grazing permits. 

Direct Hire Authority: The Forest Service is seeking Direct Hire Authority for Resource Assistant Interns who have 

successfully completed the newly implemented Resource Assistant Program. The Program is designed to attract 

recent graduates of institutions of higher education with particular emphasis on ensuring full representation of 

women and participants from historically Black, Hispanic, and Native American schools, or other schools with 

diverse student populations. This authority will enable the Forest Service to directly hire eligible resource assistants 

who have successfully completed a minimum of 960 hours on a Forest Service unit and have at least an Associate 

degree. The resource assistants would be hired without competing in a competitive examination or competing with 

career and career-condition employees under internal merit staffing procedures for qualifying permanent positions 

for which they are eligible in a land management agency. Veteran’s preference would not apply, and candidates 

applying under this authority would be considered along with other noncompetitive candidates. 

Wild and Scenic Rivers: The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires that comprehensive river management plans be 

prepared within three years following a Wild and Scenic River designation to address “resource protection, 

development of lands and facilities, user capacities, and other management practices necessary or desirable to 

achieve for purposes of this Act. “ This proposal would change the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to state that the 

Secretary of Agriculture shall not be considered to be in violation of Section 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 

Act solely because more than three years have passed since a river was designated “wild and scenic,” and a 

comprehensive river management plan has not yet been completed. If more than three years have passed since 

designation without the completion of a comprehensive river management plan, the proposal would require that a 

plan must be completed or appropriately updated no later than during the next forest plan revision process. 
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Administrative Provisions 

(Including transfers of funds) 

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Appropriations to the Forest Service for the current fiscal year shall be available for: (1) purchase 

of passenger motor vehicles; acquisition of passenger motor vehicles from excess sources, and hire of 

such vehicles; purchase, lease, operation, maintenance, and acquisition of aircraft to maintain the 

operable fleet for use in Forest Service wildland fire programs and other Forest Service programs; 

notwithstanding other provisions of law, existing aircraft being replaced may be sold, with proceeds 

derived or trade-in value used to offset the purchase price for the replacement aircraft; (2) services 

pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2225, and not to exceed $100,000 for employment under 5 U.S.C. 3109; (3) 

purchase, erection, and alteration of buildings and other public improvements (7 U.S.C. 2250); (4) 

acquisition of land, waters, and interests therein pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 428a; (5) for expenses pursuant to 

the Volunteers in the National Forest Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 558a, 558d, and 558a note); (6) the cost of 

uniforms as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902; and (7) for debt collection contracts in accordance with 

31 U.S.C. 3718(c). 

Any appropriations or funds available to the Forest Service may be transferred to the Wildland 

Fire Management appropriation for forest firefighting, emergency rehabilitation of burned-over or 

damaged lands or waters under its jurisdiction, and fire preparedness due to severe burning conditions 

upon the Secretary's notification of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that all fire 

suppression funds appropriated under the heading "Wildland Fire Management" will be obligated within 

30 days. 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Forest Service may transfer funds 

appropriated to the Forest Service by this Act to or within the "National Forest System" account for the 

purposes of hazardous fuels management and emergency rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest 

System lands and water: Provided, That such transferred funds shall remain available through September 

30, 2022: Provided further, That none of the funds transferred pursuant to this section shall be available 

for obligation without written notification to and the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations 

of both Houses of Congress. 

Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for assistance to or through the Agency 

for International Development in connection with forest and rangeland research, technical information, 

and assistance in foreign countries, and shall be available to support forestry and related natural resource 

activities outside the United States and its territories and possessions, including technical assistance, 

education and training, and cooperation with U.S., private, and international organizations. The Forest 

Service, acting for the International Program, may sign direct funding agreements with foreign 

governments and institutions as well as other domestic agencies (including the U.S. Agency for 

International Development, the Department of State, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation), U.S. 

private sector firms, institutions and organizations to provide technical assistance and training programs 

overseas on forestry and rangeland management. 

Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for expenditure or transfer to the 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, for removal, preparation, and adoption of 

excess wild horses and burros from National Forest System lands, and for the performance of cadastral 

surveys to designate the boundaries of such lands. 

None of the funds made available to the Forest Service in this Act or any other Act with respect to 

any fiscal year shall be subject to transfer under the provisions of section 702(b) of the Department of 

Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 (7 U.S.C. 2257), section 442 of Public Law 106–224 (7 U.S.C. 7772), or 

section 10417(b) of Public Law 107–171 (7 U.S.C. 8316(b)). 

None of the funds available to the Forest Service may be reprogrammed without the advance 

notification to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in accordance with the 

reprogramming procedures contained in the explanatory statement accompanying this Act. 

Not more than $82,000,000 of funds available to the Forest Service shall be transferred to the 

Working Capital Fund of the Department of Agriculture and not more than $14,500,000 of funds 

available to the Forest Service shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture for Department 

Reimbursable Programs, commonly referred to as Greenbook charges. Nothing in this paragraph shall 

prohibit or limit the use of reimbursable agreements requested by the Forest Service in order to obtain 

services from the Department of Agriculture's National Information Technology Center and the 

Department of Agriculture's International Technology Service. 

Of the funds available to the Forest Service, up to $5,000,000 shall be available for priority 

projects within the scope of the approved budget, which shall be carried out by the Youth Conservation 
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Corps and shall be carried out under the authority of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, Public Law 

103–82, as amended by Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005, Public Law 109–

154. 

Of the funds available to the Forest Service, $4,000 is available to the Chief of the Forest Service 

for official reception and representation expenses. 

Pursuant to sections 405(b) and 410(b) of Public Law 101–593, of the funds available to the 

Forest Service, up to $3,000,000 may be advanced in a lump sum to the National Forest Foundation to aid 

conservation partnership projects in support of the Forest Service mission, without regard to when the 

Foundation incurs expenses, for projects on or benefitting National Forest System lands or related to 

Forest Service programs: Provided, That of the Federal funds made available to the Foundation, no more 

than $300,000 shall be available for administrative expenses: Provided further, That the Foundation shall 

obtain, by the end of the period of Federal financial assistance, private contributions to match funds made 

available by the Forest Service on at least a one-for-one basis: Provided further, That the Foundation may 

transfer Federal funds to a Federal or a non-Federal recipient for a project at the same rate that the 

recipient has obtained the non-Federal matching funds. 

Pursuant to section 2(b)(2) of Public Law 98–244, up to $3,000,000 of the funds available to the 

Forest Service may be advanced to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in a lump sum to aid costshare conservation projects, without regard to when expenses are incurred, on or benefitting National 

Forest System lands or related to Forest Service programs: Provided, That such funds shall be matched 

on at least a one-for-one basis by the Foundation or its sub-recipients: Provided further, That the 

Foundation may transfer Federal funds to a Federal or non-Federal recipient for a project at the same rate 

that the recipient has obtained the non-Federal matching funds. 

Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for interactions with and providing 

technical assistance to rural communities and natural resource-based businesses for sustainable rural 

development purposes. 

Funds appropriated to the Forest Service shall be available for payments to counties within the 

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, pursuant to section 14(c)(1) and (2), and section 16(a)(2) of 

Public Law 99–663. 

Any funds appropriated to the Forest Service may be used to meet the non-Federal share 

requirement in section 502(c) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3056(c)(2)). 

[Funds available to the Forest Service, not to exceed $65,000,000, shall be assessed for the 

purpose of performing fire, administrative and other facilities maintenance and decommissioning. Such 

assessments shall occur using a square foot rate charged on the same basis the agency uses to assess 

programs for payment of rent, utilities, and other support services.] 

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of any appropriations or funds available to the Forest 

Service, not to exceed $500,000 may be used to reimburse the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), 

Department of Agriculture, for travel and related expenses incurred as a result of OGC assistance or 

participation requested by the Forest Service at meetings, training sessions, management reviews, land 

purchase negotiations and similar matters unrelated to civil litigation. Future budget justifications for both 

the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture should clearly display the sums previously 

transferred and the sums requested for transfer. 

An eligible individual who is employed in any project funded under title V of the Older 

Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.) and administered by the Forest Service shall be 

considered to be a Federal employee for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code. 

The first change incorporates authority granted to the USDA Forest Service in the Consolidated 

Appropriations 2017 to transfer unobligated prior year balances to implement hazardous fuels and postfire rehabilitation of land. 

The second change proposes elimination of the facilities assessment, also known as Cost Pool 9. 

 

 
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General Provisions 

TITLE IV—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

(Including transfers of funds) 

OBLIGATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 

SEC. 401. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond 

the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein. 

DISCLOSURE OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 

SEC. 402. The amount and basis of estimated overhead charges, deductions, re- serves or holdbacks, 

including working capital fund and cost pool charges, from programs, projects, activities and subactivities 

to support government-wide, departmental, agency, or bureau administrative functions or headquarters, 

regional, or central operations shall be presented in annual budget justifications. Advance notice of 

changes to such estimates shall be presented to the Committees on Appropriations. 

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS 

SEC. 406. The Secretary of Agriculture shall not be considered to be in violation of subparagraph 

6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 

1604(f)(5)(A)) solely because more than 15 years have passed without revision of the plan for a unit of 

the National Forest System. Nothing in this section exempts the Secretary from any other requirement of 

the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.) or any other law: 

Provided, That if the Secretary is not acting expeditiously and in good faith, within the funding available, 

to revise a plan for a unit of the National Forest System, this section shall be void with respect to such 

plan and a court of proper jurisdiction may order completion of the plan on an accelerated basis.

PROHIBITION WITHIN NATIONAL MONUMENTS 

SEC. 407. No funds provided in this Act may be expended to conduct preleasing, leasing and related 

activities under either the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) or the Outer Continental Shelf 

Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) within the boundaries of a National Monument established pursuant 

to the Act of June 8, 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431 et seq.) as such boundary existed on January 20, 2001, except 

where such activities are allowed under the Presidential proclamation establishing such monument.

LIMITATION ON TAKINGS 

SEC. 408. Unless otherwise provided herein, no funds appropriated in this Act for the acquisition of lands 

or interests in lands may be expended for the filing of declarations of taking or complaints in 

condemnation without providing prior notification to the House and Senate Committees on 

Appropriations: Provided, That this provision shall not apply to funds appropriated to implement the 

Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989, or to funds appropriated for Federal 

assistance to the State of Florida to acquire lands for Everglades restoration purposes. 

POSTING OF REPORTS 

SEC. 410. (a) Any agency receiving funds made available in this Act, shall, subject to subsections (b) and 

(c), post on the public website of that agency any report required to be submitted by the Congress in this 

or any other Act, upon the determination by the head of the agency that it shall serve the national interest. 

(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if— 

the public posting of the report compromises national security; or 
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the report contains proprietary information. 

(c) The head of the agency posting such report shall do so only after such report has been made 

available to the requesting Committee or Committees of Congress for no less than 45 days. 

RECREATION FEE 

SEC. 411. Section 810 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809) is amended 

by striking "September 30, [2018]2019" and inserting "September 30, [2019]2021". 

CONTRACTING AUTHORITIES 

SEC. 416. Section 412 of Division E of Public Law 112–74 is amended by striking "fiscal year 2017," 

and inserting "fiscal year [2019]2020," 

EXTENSION OF GRAZING PERMITS 

SEC. 418. The terms and conditions of section 325 of Public Law 108–108 (117 Stat. 1307), 

regarding grazing permits issued by the Forest Service on any lands not subject to administration 

under section 402 of the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1752), shall remain 

in effect for fiscal year [2018]2019. 

FOREST SERVICE FACILITY REALIGNMENT AND ENHANCEMENT ACT 

SEC. 420. Section 503(f) of the Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005 (16 

U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 109–54) is amended by striking "2016" and inserting "2019". 

SMALL TRACTS CONVEYANCE AUTHORITY, LAND ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM, 

NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM 

SEC. 421. The Act of January 12, 1983 (commonly known as the Small Tracts Act 

(16 U.S.C. 521c - 521i)) is amended— 

(d) in section 3— 

(1) in the introductory text, by striking "$150,000" and inserting "$500,000"; 

(2) in paragraph (2) by striking "; or" and inserting a semicolon; 

(3) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and 

(4) by adding at the end the following— 

"(4) parcels of 40 acres or less which are determined by the Secretary to be physically isolated, to be 

inaccessible, or to have lost their National Forest character; 

"(5) parcels of 10 acres or less and encumbered by permanent habitable improvements which are not 

eligible for conveyance under the Encroachment Category, but which are not intentional trespasses 

nor for which existing information would have prevented the encroachment; 

"(6) parcels used as a cemetery, a landfill, or a sewage treatment plant under a special use 

authorization issued by the Secretary. 

(b) by adding at the end the following— "SECTION 8. DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS. 

"(a) IN GENERAL.—The net proceeds derived from any sale or exchange under paragraphs (4), (5) and 

(6) of section 3 shall be deposited in the fund established by Public Law 90–171 (commonly known as 
8 

6 

7 

the "Sisk Act") (16 U.S.C. 484a). "(b) USE.—Amounts deposited under subsection (a) shall be available 

to the Secretary, without further appropriation, and shall remain available until expended for— 

"(i) the acquisition of land or interests in land for administrative sites for the National Forest System in 

the State; 

"(ii) the acquisition of land or interests in land for inclusion in the National Forest System within the 

State, including those which enhance recreational access opportunities. 

WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS COMPREHENSIVE RIVER MANAGEMENT PLANS 

SEC. 424. The Secretary of Agriculture shall not be considered to be in violation of Section 3(d)(1) of the 

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act solely because more than three years have passed since designation prior to 

the completion of a comprehensive river management plan; Provided, that if more than three years have 

passed since designation without the completion of a comprehensive river management plan, then said 

plan must be completed or appropriately updated no later than during the next forest plan revision 

process. 

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY 

SEC. 425. (a) For fiscal year 2019, the Secretary of Agriculture may appoint, without regard to the 

provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 

of such title, a qualified candidate described in subsection (b) directly to a position with the United States 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service for which the candidate meets Office of Personnel 

Management qualification standards. 

(a) Subsection (a) applies to a former resource assistant (as defined in section 203 of the Public 

Land Corps Act (16 U.S.C. 1722)) who completed a rigorous undergraduate or graduate summer 

internship with a land managing agency, such as the Forest Service Resource Assistant Program 

successfully fulfilled the requirements of the internship program; and subsequently earned an 

undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education. 

(b) The direct hire authority under this section may not be exercised with respect to a specific 

qualified candidate after the end of the two-year period beginning on the date on which the 

candidate completed the undergraduate or graduate degree, as the case may be.

The first change extends authority for the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6809). 

The second change extends the provision to 2020. 

The third change addresses concerns that, with respect to grazing permits issued by the Forest Service, 

the amendments of section 402 of Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1752) 

in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2015 (P.L. 113-291) incorporated the authority in 325 

only as it applied to grazing on National Forests in the 16 contiguous western states but not to grazing on 

National Grasslands and on eastern National Forests. With the addition of this section, the terms and 

conditions in section 325 of P.L. 108-108 would apply to grazing permits issued by the Forest Service on 

any National Forest System lands. 

The fourth change reauthorizes the Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act, which 

expired at the end of 2016. 

The fifth change increases the amount authorized to spend per parcel. 

The sixth change changes the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to state that the Secretary of Agriculture shall 

not be considered to be in violation of Section 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act solely because 

more than three years have passed since a river was designated “wild and scenic” and a comprehensive 

river management plan has not yet been completed. 

The seventh change authorizes Direct Hire Authority for Resource Assistant Interns who have 

successfully completed the newly implemented Resource Assistant Program. The Program is designed to 

attract recent graduates of institutions of higher education with particular emphasis on ensuring full 
9 

representation of women and participants from historically Black, Hispanic, and Native American schools 

or other schools with diverse student populations. 

Purpose Statement 

The USDA Forest Service was established within the Department of Agriculture in 1905, pursuant to the Transfer 

Act of 1905 (33 Stat. 628) and the Agricultural Appropriation Act of 1906 (33 Stat.872). The mission of the agency 

is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present 

and future generations. The USDA Forest Service is composed of four Deputy Areas: (1) National Forest System, 

(2) Research & Development, (3) State and Private Forestry, and (4) Business Operations. 

The National Forest System includes 154 national forests and 20 grasslands. The natural resources on these lands are 

some of the nation’s greatest assets and have major economic, environmental, and social significance for all 

Americans. 

Research and Development provides the scientific and technical knowledge necessary to protect and sustain the 

nation’s natural resources on all lands. 

State and Private Forestry cooperates with State and local governments, forest industries, other private landowners, 

and forest users in the management, protection, and development of forest land in non-Federal ownership. Wildland 

Fire and Aviation Management is managed within State and Private Forestry. Wildland Fire Management provides 

leadership in wildland fire management operations and research and protects 193 million acres of National Forest 

System Lands and an additional 20 million acres of State and private lands. 

Business Operations provides direction, quality assurance, and customer service in carrying out agency activities 

associated with strategic planning, budget, human resource management, acquisition management, and the Chief 

Information Officer. 

Headquarters of the USDA Forest Service is located in Washington, D.C. As of September 30, 2017, there were 

27,543 permanent full-time employees, including 582 in the headquarters office and 26,961 in regional and field 

offices. 

OIG Reports – Completed 

#08601-0002-41 06/09/17 Firefighting Cost-Share Agreements with Non-Federal Entities. 

#08601-0004-41 09/06/17 Forest Service Wildland Fire Activities-Hazardous Fuels Reduction. 

OIG Reports – In Progress 

#08601-0004-31 Forest Service Deferred Maintenance 

#08099-0001-12 Forest Service Next Generation and Legacy Air Tanker Contract Awards 

#08001-0001-21 Forest Service Watershed Management. 

#08601-0005-41 Forest Service’s Plan for Addressing Climate Change 

#08601-0006-41 Forest Service Secure Rural Schools Funding 

GAO Reports – Completed 

#16-699 10/03/16 Advanced Technologies: Strengthened Federal Approach Needed to Help 

 Identify and Mitigate Supply Risks for Critical Raw Materials. 

#18-56 01/31/18 Forest Service: Improvements Needed in Internal Controls over Budget 

Execution Processes 

GAO Reports – In Progress 

#17-357 Wildland Fire Risk Reduction: Multiple Factors Affect Federal-Nonfederal 

 Collaboration, but Action Could Be Taken to Better Measure Progress. 
10 

Four-Year Summary of Appropriations 

(Dollars in thousands)

 2016 Actual 2017 Actual

2018 

Annualized 

CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Change 2019 

From 2018

Percent 

Change

Forest & Rangeland Research

Forest and Rangeland Research $291,000 $211,514 $210,078 $171,050 -$39,028 -19%

Forest Inventory and Analysis - 77,000 76,477 75,000 -1,477 -2%

National Fire Plan a/ - - 19,661 14,750 -4,911 -25%

Forest & Rangeland Research Total 291,000 288,514 306,216 260,800 -45,416 -15%

State & Private Forestry

Landscape Scale Restoration 14,000 14,000 13,905 - -13,905 -100%

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 58,922 55,500 55,123 51,495 -3,628 -7%

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 40,678 39,000 38,735 34,376 -4,359 -11%

Working Forest Lands /b 23,036 20,036 19,900 19,475 -425 -2%

Forest Legacy Program 62,347 62,347 61,924 - -61,924 -100%

Community Forest and Open Space Conservation 2,000 2,000 1,986 - -1,986 -100%

Urban and Community Forestry 28,040 28,040 27,850 - -27,850 -100%

International Forestry 8,000 8,000 7,946 - -7,946 -100%

National Fire Capacity c/ - - 77,470 65,930 -11,540 -15%

Rural Fire Capacity c/ - - 14,898 11,020 -3,878 -26%

State and Private Forestry Total 237,023 228,923 319,737 182,296 -137,441 -43%

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 40,000 40,000 39,728 - -39,728 -100%

Land Management Planning, Assessment & Monitoring - 182,928 181,686 156,750 -24,936 -14%

Land Management Planning 36,998 - - - - NA

Inventory and Monitoring 147,998 - - - - NA

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 261,719 264,595 262,798 240,236 -22,562 -9%

Wildlife & Fisheries Habitat Management 140,466 140,466 139,512 118,750 -20,762 -15%

Hazardous Fuels d/ - - 387,352 390,000 2,648 1%

Grazing Management 56,856 56,856 56,470 48,070 -8,400 -15%

Forest Products 359,805 367,805 365,307 341,165 -24,142 -7%

Vegetation & Watershed Management 184,716 184,716 183,462 165,680 -17,782 -10%

Minerals and Geology Management 76,423 75,569 75,056 64,600 -10,456 -14%

Land Use Authorization and Access e/ 77,730 73,730 73,229 65,550 -7,679 -10%

Law Enforcement Operations 126,653 126,653 125,793 129,153 3,360 3%

National Forest System Total 1,509,364 1,513,318 1,890,393 1,719,954 -170,439 -9%

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 71,390 71,390 70,905 11,162 -59,743 -84%

Roads 172,094 175,094 173,905 71,481 -102,424 -59%

Trails 77,530 77,530 77,004 12,065 -64,939 -84%

Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Improvement 3,150 - - - - NA

Legacy Roads and Trails 40,000 40,000 39,728 - -39,728 -100%

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 364,164 364,014 361,542 94,708 -266,834 -74%

Land Acquisition

Land Acquisition 63,435 54,415 54,045 - -54,045 -100%

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests Special Acts 950 950 944 700 -244 -26%

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges 216 216 215 150 -65 -30%

Land Acquisition Total 64,601 55,581 55,204 850 -54,354 -98%

Other Appropriations

Range Betterment Fund 2,320 2,320 2,304 1,700 -604 -26%

Gifts, Donations, & Bequest for Forest & Rangeland Research 45 45 45 45 - 0%

Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses 2,500 2,500 2,483 1,850 -633 -25%

Other Appropriations Total 4,865 4,865 4,832 3,595 -1,237 -26%
11 

 2016 Actual 2017 Actual

2018 

Annualized 

CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Change 2019 

From 2018

Percent 

Change

Wildland Fire Management

Preparedness 1,082,620 1,082,620 1,075,268 1,339,620 264,352 25%

Suppression 811,000 1,248,000 1,239,525 1,165,366 -74,159 -6%

Research and Development /a 19,795 19,795 - - - NA

Joint Fire Science Program 6,914 - - - - NA

Hazardous Fuels d/ 375,000 390,000 - - - NA

National Fire Capacity b/ 78,000 78,000 - - - NA

Rural Fire Capacity b/ 13,000 15,000 - - - NA

Wildland Fire Management Total 2,386,329 2,833,415 2,314,793 2,504,986 190,193 8%

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 823,000 - - - - NA

FLAME Wildfire Suppression (Emergency Designation) - 342,000 - - - NA

Discretionary Appropriations Total 5,680,346 5,630,630 5,252,717 4,767,189 -485,528 -9%

Supplemental Fire Transfer Repayment (Emergency Designation) - - 526,500 - -526,500 -100%

Discretionary and Supplemental Total 5,680,346 5,630,630 5,779,217 4,767,189 -1,012,028 -18%

Permanent Appropriations f/

Brush Disposal 7,695 8,257 8,000 8,000 - 0%

Timber Salvage Sales 35,919 38,516 36,000 36,000 - 0%

Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration 5,151 5,232 5,500 5,500 - 0%

Forest Botanical Products 1,570 1,512 1,500 1,500 - 0%

Stewardship Contracting 15,746 14,639 14,000 17,000 3,000 21%

Recreation Fees, Forest Service 86,303 99,712 99,589 99,580 -9 0%

Timber Purchaser Election Road Construction - 2,000 2000 2,000 - 0%

Operation and Maintenance of Forest Service Quarters 9,225 9,179 10,000 10,000 - 0%

Roads and Trails for States - - 17,000 17,000 - 0%

Land Between the Lakes Management 4,655 5,460 5,460 5,460 - 0%

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Rental Fees 755 340 340 340 - 0%

Quinault Special Management Area - 7 7 7 - 0%

Restoration of Forest Lands and Improvements 10,607 37,782 11,000 11,000 - 0%

Commercial Filming and Still Photography Land Use Fee 672 710 711 710 -1 0%

Organizational Camps Program 683 710 710 710 - 0%

Cost Recovery (Land Uses) 8,386 7,408 4,900 4,900 - 0%

Licensee Program Smokey Bear 99 286 286 286 - 0%

Licensee Program Woodsy Owl 7 33 33 33 - 0%

Forest Service Go Green Program (Conservation) 34 99 99 99 - 0%

Conveyance of Administrative Sites 16,901 1,154 1,000 1,000 - 0%

Site-Specific Lands Acts 289 1798 1,000 1,000 - 0%

Payments to State Funds 362,391 73,053 77,150 77,150 - 0%

Permanent Appropriations Total 567,088 307,887 296,285 299,275 2,990 1%

Trust Funds f/

Cooperative Work - Knutson-Vandenberg 210,171 69,989 61,000 53,000 -8,000 -13%

Cooperative Work, Other 84,139 35,876 24,000 23,000 -1,000 -3%

Reforestation Trust Fund 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 - 0%

Land Between the Lakes Trust Fund 92 92 - - - NA

Trust Funds Total 324,402 135,957 115,000 106,000 -9,000 -8%

Grand Total, Forest Service 6,571,836 6,074,474 6,190,502 5,172,464 -1,018,038 -16%

Rescissions and Deferrals g/

Forest and Rangeland Research - -815 -815 -2,000 -1,185 145%

State and Private Forestry - -15,502 -15,502 -10,000 5,502 -35%

National Forest System - -2,000 -2,000 - 2,000 -100%

Land Acquisition - - - -17,000 -17,000 NA

Wildland Fire Management - - - -65,000 -65,000 NA

Roads and Trails for States Deferral -16,000 -16,000 -15,000 -15,000 - 0%

Rescissions and Deferrals Total -16,000 -34,317 -33,317 -109,000 -75,683 227%

a/ National Fire Plan is shifted from Wildland Fire Management to Forest and Rangeland Research in FY 2019. Amounts in FY 2018 have been shifted 

for comparability. 

b/ Previously Forest Stewardship 

c/ National Fire Capacity (previously State Fire Assistance) and Rural Fire Capacity (previously Volunteer Fire Assistance) are shifted from Wildland 

Fire Management to State and Private Forestry in FY 2019. Amounts in FY 2018 are shifted for comparability. 
12 

d/ Hazardous Fuels is shifted from Wildland Fire Management to National Forest System in 2019. Amounts in FY 2018 are shifted for comparability. 

e/ Previously Landownership Management. 

f/ Amounts in FY 2016 and FY 2017 updated to reflect collections instead of obligations. 

g/ Rescission of prior year unobligated balances in FY 2017 and 2018; FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation of prior year unobligated balances. 

 
13 

Four-Year Summary of Full Time Equivalents 

 2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized 

CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Change 2019 

From 

2018 

Forest & Rangeland Research

Forest and Rangeland Research 1,746 1,469 1,469 855 -614

Forest Inventory and Analysis 0 168 168 164 -4

National Fire Plan a/ 0 0 107 81 -26

Forest & Rangeland Research Total 1,746 1,637 1,744 1,100 -644

State & Private Forestry

Landscape Scale Restoration 0 2 2 0 -2

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 296 285 285 264 -21

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 86 90 90 77 -13

Working Forest Lands b/ 56 54 54 49 -5

Forest Legacy Program 27 28 28 0 -28

Community Forest and Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 49 53 53 0 -53

International Forestry 40 51 51 0 -51

National Fire Capacity c/ 0 0 57 44 -13

Rural Fire Capacity c/ 0 0 0 0 0

State and Private Forestry Total 554 563 620 434 -186

National Forest System

Integrated Resource Restoration Pilot 1,450 1,492 1,492 0 -1,492

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 268 260 260 0 -260

Land Management Planning, Assessment & Monitoring 0 768 768 698 -70

Land Management Planning 224 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 857 0 0 0 0

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 1,862 1,851 1,851 1,742 -109

Wildlife & Fisheries Habitat Management 749 737 737 664 -73

Hazardous Fuels d/ 0 0 1,884 1,884 1,884

Grazing Management 428 444 444 381 -63

Forest Products 2,485 2,284 2,284 2,178 -106

Vegetation & Watershed Management 829 779 779 728 -51

Minerals and Geology Management 461 458 458 410 -48

Land Use Authorization and Access e/ 526 503 503 467 -36

Law Enforcement Operations 691 658 658 691 33

National Forest System Total 10,830 10,234 12,118 9,843 -2,275

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 307 292 292 141 -151

Roads 977 966 966 616 -350

Trails 583 559 559 271 -288

Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure Improvement 1 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 77 75 75 0 -75

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 1,945 1,892 1,892 1,028 -864

Land Acquisition

Land Acquisition 52 60 60 0 -60

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition Total 52 60 60 0 -60

Other Appropriations

Range Betterment Fund 6 6 6 5 -1

Gifts, Donations, & Bequest for Forest & Rangeland Research 0 0 0 0 0

Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses 12 13 13 11 -2

Other Appropriations Total 18 19 19 16 -3
14 

 2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized 

CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Change 2019 

From 

2018 

Wildland Fire Management

Preparedness 7,170 6,936 6,936 7,030 94

Suppression 3,100 3,752 3,752 3,040 -712

Research and Development a/ 99 107 0 0 0

Joint Fire Science Program 8 0 0 0 0

Hazardous Fuels d/ 1,815 1,884 0 0 0

National Fire Capacity c/ 56 57 0 0 0

Rural Fire Capacity c/ 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 12,248 12,736 10,688 10,070 -618

Supplemental - FLAME* 0 0 0 0 0

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 0 0

Discretionary Appropriations Total 27,393 27,141 27,141 22,491 -4,650

Permanent Funds 1,194 1,590 1,590 1,590 0

Trust Funds 741 894 894 894 0

FTEs Only

Allocation 1,379 1,392 1,392 1,392 0

Discretionary Reimbursable 699 740 740 740 0

Working Capital Fund 606 670 670 670 0

FTEs Only Total 2,684 2,802 2,802 2,802 0

Grand Total, Forest Service 32,012 32,427 32,427 27,777 -4,650

a/ National Fire Plan is shifted from Wildland Fire Management to Forest and Rangeland Research in FY 2019. Amounts in FY 2018 have been shifted 

 for comparability. 

b/ Previously Forest Stewardship 

c/ National Fire Capacity (previously State Fire Assistance) and Rural Fire Capacity (previously Volunteer Fire Assistance) are shifted from Wildland 

 Fire Management to State and Private Forestry in FY 2019. Amounts in FY 2018 have been shifted for comparability. 

d/ Hazardous Fuels is shifted from Wildland Fire Management to National Forest System in FY 2019. Amounts in FY 2018 have been shifted for 

 comparability. 

e/ Previously Landownership Management 
15 

Revenue, Receipts and Transfers 

Fiscal Year 2016 - 2019 National Forest Fund (NFF) Receipts Availability 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Class 1 - Timber $29,878 $31,176 $31,176 $31,176

Class 2 - Grazing East 61 62 62 62

Class 3 - Land Use 21,281 21,080 21,080 21,080

Class 4 - Recreation Spec. Uses 79,583 82,990 82,990 82,990

Class 5 - Power 7,416 7,969 7,969 7,969

Class 6 - Minerals 1,940 1,855 1,855 1,855

Class 7 - Recreation User Fees 0 0 0 0

Class 8 - Grazing West 8,486 7,608 7,608 7,608

Class 9 - Quartz_Crystals 18 43 43 43

Total NFF Receipts 148,664 152,783 152,783 152,783

KV Revenue 57,611 68,127 68,127 68,127

Purchaser Road Credit 0 0 0 0

Specified Road Costs 15,476 15,063 15,063 15,063

Timber Salvage Sale 35,827 36,692 36,692 36,692

Timber Pipeline Revenue 5,575 4,721 4,721 4,721

Total Other Timber Related Receipts 114,489 124,602 124,602 124,602

Grand Total 263,153 277,385 277,385 277,385

Total NFF Receipts 148,664 152,783 152,783 152,783

DOI:ONRR/MMS Minerals Revenue NFF 11,093 19,702 19,702 19,702

Minnesota Boundary Water Canoe Area (BWCA) -6,150 -6,150 -6,150 -6,150

Timber Roads - Purch Elect Program -2,000 -2,000 -2,000 -2,000

Acquisition of Lands for Nat Forests-Spec Act -950 -850 -700 -700

50% Grazing (Range Betterment Fund) - Est. -4,243 -3,804 -3,804 -3,804

10% Roads & Trails - Est. -17,005 -18,676 -15,000 -15,000

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Expansion -340 -725 -725 -725

Other Special Act Payments (Arkansas Quartz and 

Quinault Spec Mgmt Area) Prior to Sequester -10 -51 -51 -51

Total Additions/Reductions other than Payments to 

States -19,605 -12,555 -8,729 -8,729

Total Receipts Available for Payments to States 129,059 140,228 144,054 144,054

PTS - 25% 7-year Rolling Average of Receipts 

Payment (Prior to Sequester) -58,231 -61,553 -61,553 -61,553

SRS - Title II Allocation - SRS2 - - - - 

SRS - Failure to Elect Allocation - SRSA - - - - 

SRS - Allocation to Treasury - - - - 

Initial Receipt Reductions for PTS -58,231 -61,553 -61,553 -61,553

Receipts Available for SRS - Title I & III 70,827 78,674 82,501 82,501

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Estimate 2019 Estimate

2018 Estimate 2019 Estimate

Funding Additions and Reductions - Special Acts

Funds Availability for Payments to States (PTS) under Current Legislation: 1908 Act or SRS

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Estimate 2019 Estimate

Receipt Type 2016 Actual 2017 Actual
16 

Organization Chart 

 
17 

Available Funds and Staff Years (SYs) 

 (Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Appropriations:

Forest and Rangeland Research............................................. $291,000 1,746 $288,514 1,637 $306,216 1,744 -$45,416 -644 $260,800 1,100 

State and Private Forestry....................................................... 237,023 554 228,923 563 319,737 620 -137,441 -186 182,296 434 

National Forest Systems.......................................................... 1,509,364 10,830 1,513,318 10,234 1,890,393 12,118 -170,439 -2,275 1,719,954 9,843 

Capital Improvement and Maintenance................................ 364,164 1,945 364,014 1,892 361,542 1,892 -266,834 -864 94,708 1,028 

Wildland Fire Management..................................................... 3,086,329 12,248 2,833,415 12,736 2,314,793 10,688 +190,193 -618 2,504,986 10,070 

FLAME a/.................................................................................. 823,000 - 342,000 - - - - - - - 

Land Acquisition ..................................................................... 52 64,385 55,365 60 55,204 60 -54,354 -60 850 - 

Other Appropriations............................................................... 5,773 18 6,753 19 4,832 19 -1,237 -3 3,595 16 

Subtotal......................................................................................... 6,381,039 27,393 5,632,302 27,141 5,252,717 27,141 -485,528 -4,650 4,767,189 22,491 

Mandatory Appropriations:

Permanent Funds...................................................................... 567,087 1,194 307,887 1,590 296,285 1,590 +2,990 - 299,275 1,590 

Trust Funds............................................................................... 324,401 741 135,957 894 115,000 894 -9,000 - 106,000 894 

Subtotal......................................................................................... 891,489 1,935 443,844 2,484 411,285 2,484 -6,010 - 405,275 2,484 

Supplemental Appropriations b/...............................................

Wildland Fire Management..................................................... - - - - 184,500 - -184,500 - - - 

FLAME....................................................................................... - - - - 342,000 - -342,000 - - -

Subtotal......................................................................................... - - - - 526,500 - -526,500 - - -

Total Appropriation ................................................................... 7,272,527 29,328 6,076,146 29,625 6,190,502 29,625 -1,018,038 -4,650 5,172,464 24,975 

Adjustment for Change in Uncollected Payments................. -2,343 - -603 - - - - - - - 

Sequestration............................................................................... -3,947 - -3,388 - -2,272 - +2,272 - - - 

Deferral.......................................................................................... -16,000 - -16,000 - -15,000 - - - -15,000 - 

Transfers In.................................................................................. 1,223,550 107 981,513 107 - - - - - - 

Transfers Out............................................................................... -553,923 -107 -441,302 -107 - - - - - - 

Adjusted Appropriation............................................................. 7,919,864 29,328 6,596,366 29,625 6,173,230 29,625 -1,015,766 -4,650 5,157,464 24,975 

Rescission c/................................................................................ - - -18,317 - -18,317 - -75,683 - -94,000 -

Bal. Available, SOY..................................................................... 721,943 - 1,390,031 - 811,078 - -139,172 - 671,906 -

Recoveries, Other (Net).............................................................. 305,787 - 302,239 - 12,830 - -12,830 - - -

Total Available.......................................................................... 8,947,595 29,328 8,270,320 29,625 6,978,821 29,625 -1,243,451 -4,650 5,735,370 24,975

Lapsing Balances......................................................................... -203 - -598 - -100 - - - -100 -

Bal. Available, EOY..................................................................... -1,390,031 - -811,078 - -671,906 - +165,044 - -506,862 -

Obligations................................................................................ 7,557,360 29,328 7,458,644 29,625 6,306,815 29,625 -1,078,407 -4,650 5,228,408 24,975

Discretionary Federal and Non-Federal Reimbursements 

and Working Capital Fund d/ e/ 498,590 2,684 510,127 2,802 490,800 2,802 -28,000 - 462,800 2,802

Total Obligations......................................................................... 8,055,950 32,012 7,968,771 32,427 6,797,615 32,427 -1,106,407 -4,650 5,691,208 27,777

Wildfire Suppression Operations Fund f/......................... - - - - - - +1,519,000 - 1,519,000 -

Notes:

a/ FLAME Funding in 2017 was designated as Emergency 

d/ Mandatory reimbursable obligations reported in Permanent and Trust Funds

e/ Discretionary reimbursable obligations reported in Discretionary Federal and Non-Federal Reimbursements

f/ Contingent upon enactment of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Authority Act, which amends section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 

(BBEDCA) to provide an adjustment to the discretionary spending limits for Wildfire Operations, such amount is additional new budget authority specified for purposes of section 

251(b)(2)(E) of BBEDCA. The President may delegate administration, management, and execution of this account to an officer or Department within the executive branch. 

c/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 

b/ Supplemental funding provided in 2018 (P.L. 115-72) was designated by Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced 

Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. 
18 

Motor Vehicle Fleet Data 

Size, Composition and Cost 

The Forest Service utilizes a revolving Working Capital Fund (WCF) to finance its fleet operations. Each program 

area or project pays a monthly Fixed Ownership Rate (FOR) and a per-mile use rate for each WCF–owned or GSAleased vehicle assigned for their use. These funds are deposited into specific vehicle and asset WCF accounts that 

make up the revolving fund and are not tied to a fiscal year. The WCF funds are used to finance the fleet operation 

to include vehicle depreciation, and increased replacement costs. GSA agency-incurred expenses, fuel and 

maintenance costs, program management costs, and the eventual in-kind replacement of all vehicles based on 

lifecycle eligibility. The Forest Service fleet does not use any appropriations in support of its fleet other than the 

FOR and use collected. 

The Forest Service hierarchy is broken down by regions, forests/grasslands/stations, and districts. The line officers 

in charge of these different levels of organization are responsible for determining the composition and quantity of 

vehicles required to meet their mission goals. The composition and quantity of vehicles is determined by mission 

needs through vehicle allocation methodology (VAM), total cost of ownership/lifecycle cost (TCO) analysis, 

budgetary constraints, operating environment, and personnel supported. Line officers and program managers are 

responsible for assigning vehicles to drivers per specific mission requirements at the local level. Fleet program 

managers coordinate the certification and authorization of drivers with supervisors and line officers at the local 

level. 

Fleet program managers closely monitor fleet composition through use of a TCO model and a formal VAM process 

to identify the most efficient vehicles, on a case by case basis, to meet mission requirements. Though fleet 

composition generally evolves with cost inflation, technological change, and other factors, significant changes to 

fleet composition are not anticipated. Fleet program managers continue to coordinate with line officers, program 

managers, and drivers to maximize fleet efficiency, and the agency mission and business requirements have not 

significantly changed. The Forest Service uses the GSA minimum replacement criteria for replacement of passenger 

motor vehicles as outlined in Chapter 102 Federal Management Regulation Part 102-34 of three years and/or 60,000 

miles. The majority of the agency’s passenger vehicles are replaced between four and six years in service depending 

on mileage, vehicle age, cumulative maintenance costs, and other management factors. 

The Forest Service completed a national business process reengineering study in FY 2012. Several statutory, 

regulatory, budgetary, and other management factors were considered in implementing key agency-wide initiatives 

relative to fleet efficiency and cost reduction, bulk fueling tanks analysis, vehicle sales and disposal, fleet workforce 

optimization, support for the Federal excess personal property program, and minimizing costs for vehicle paint and 

conspicuity marking. Implementation of the study findings has helped the Forest Service continue to streamline fleet 

program management activity, significantly reduce financial and administrative costs, and to right-size the fleet. 

The Forest Service Fleet Equipment Database (FED) is the official database of record, containing USDA mandatory 

vehicle-level data for the management and monitoring of fleet management operations. The FED provides the 

necessary interface with databases including the Financial Management Modernization Initiative (FMMI) financial 

system and the GSA AutoChoice vehicle ordering system to enable use of the VAM and TCO processes to identify 

the lowest cost, most efficient fleet, and to properly account for WCF financial activity. 

 
19 

Size, Composition, and Annual Operating Costs of Vehicle Fleet 

Fiscal 

Year 

Number of Vehicles by Type*

Annual Operating 

Costs ** 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Sedans 

and 

Station 

Wagons 

Light Trucks, SUVs, 

and Vans Medium 

Duty 

Vehicles 

Ambulances Buses 

Heavy 

Duty 

Vehicles 

Total 

Number 

of 

4x2 4x4 Vehicles 

2016 455 1,312 9,677 7,735 0 104 2,509 21,792 $57,212 

Change +22 -260 +362 -140 0 -10 -327 -353 2,032 

2017 477 1,052 10,039 7,595 0 94 2,182 21,439 59,244 

Change 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +592 

2018 477 1,052 10,039 7,595 0 94 2,182 21,439 59,836 

Change 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +599 

2019 477 1,052 10,039 7,595 0 94 2,182 21,439 60,435 

*Numbers include vehicles owned by the agency and leased from commercial sources or GSA. 

**Excludes acquisition costs and gains from sale of vehicles as shown in FAST. 

As project scope, potential all-risk incidents, and budgetary constraints change each year, it is impossible to predict 

future fleet additions or reductions with reliable accuracy. The figures above show a straight replacement-in-kind of 

the Forest Service fleet based on FED-identified replacement eligibility. 

Statement of Proposed Purchase of Passenger Motor Vehicles 

Fiscal 

Year 

Net 

Active 

Fleet, 

SOY Disposals 

Acquisitions 

Replacements Net Active Fleet EOY 

Additions to 

Fleet Total 

2016 357 168 19 0 19 208 

2017 208 92 23 0 23 139 

2018 139 34 34 0 34 139 

2019 139 45 45 0 45 139 

Once a vehicle is replaced, the unit has the option to retain the replaced WCF-owned vehicle for two additional 

fiscal years and/or GSA-leased vehicles for the remainder of the current field season as fleet holdovers. This critical 

business model has not historically impacted vehicle sales revenue negatively, and allows for support of 

seasonal/temporary employees and all-risk incidents without the often exorbitant cost of renting or commercial 

leasing of additional vehicles locally. The numbers above only indicate active status vehicles and do not consider 

new vehicles that have not been placed into active status, vehicles that have been sold, or are pending sale. 
20 

Permanent Positions by Grade and Staff Years 

 

Item

D.C. Field Total D.C. Field Total D.C. Field Total D.C. Field Total

SES...................................... 36 48 84 36 48 84 36 48 84 36 48 84

GS-15.................................. 101 333 434 112 342 454 112 342 454 112 342 454

GS-14.................................. 181 572 753 213 605 818 213 605 818 213 605 818

GS-13.................................. 150 2,168 2,318 183 2,287 2,470 183 2,287 2,470 183 2,287 2,470

GS-12.................................. 83 3,249 3,332 94 3,284 3,378 94 3,284 3,378 94 3,284 3,378

GS-11.................................. 48 4,981 5,029 62 4,980 5,042 62 4,980 5,042 62 4,980 5,042

GS-10.................................. 0 424 424 0 430 430 0 430 430 0 430 430

GS-9.................................... 48 4,965 5,013 48 4,876 4,924 48 4,876 4,924 48 4,876 4,924

GS-8.................................... 2 1,612 1,614 2 1,702 1,704 2 1,702 1,704 2 1,702 1,704

GS-7.................................... 17 4,449 4,466 13 4,459 4,472 13 4,459 4,472 13 4,459 4,472

GS-6.................................... 6 2,446 2,452 4 2,559 2,563 4 2,559 2,563 4 2,559 2,563

GS-5.................................... 8 5,109 5,117 9 4,949 4,958 9 4,949 4,958 9 4,949 4,958

GS-4.................................... 5 3,903 3,908 4 3,921 3,925 4 3,921 3,925 4 3,921 3,925

GS-3.................................... 1 1,602 1,603 1 1,629 1,630 1 1,629 1,630 1 1,629 1,630

GS-2.................................... 2 132 134 1 128 129 1 128 129 1 128 129

GS-1.................................... 1 19 20 0 14 14 0 14 14 0 14 14

Total Perm.

Positions......................... 689 36,012 36,701 782 36,213 36,995 782 36,213 36,995 782 36,213 36,995

Unfilled, EOY..................... 167 8,754 8,921 200 9,252 9,452 200 9,252 9,452 283 13,119 13,402

Total, Perm. Full-Time

Employment, EOY.......... 522 27,258 27,780 582 26,961 27,543 582 26,961 27,543 499 23,094 23,593

Staff Year Est..................... 601 31,411 32,012 685 31,742 32,427 685 31,742 32,427 587 27,190 27,777

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR 2019 President's Budget
21 

Shared Funding Projects 

 (Dollars in thousands) 

2016 

Actual 

2017 

Actual 

 2018 

Estimate 

2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Working Capital Fund: 

Administration: 

Material Management Service Center....................................... $929 $877 $697 $812 

Mail and Reproduction Management................................................ 470 540 469 472 

Integrated Procurement System......................................................... 8,414 8,423 7,814 7,865 

Procurement Operations Division........................................ 139 140 147 125 

HR Enterprise System...................................................... 805 805 838 1,215 

Office of the Executive Secretariat........................................ 755 874 787 849 

Subtotal.......................................................................................... 11,512 11,659 10,752 11,338 

Communications: 

Creative Media & Broadcast Center................................................. 418 614 644 494 

Finance and Management: 

National Finance Center/USDA........................................................ 8,958 8,869 9,637 9,791 

Financial Systems (Financial Management Services)....................... 56,423 54,238 48,745 50,901 

Internal Control Support Services..................................................... 321 330 398 398 

Subtotal.......................................................................................... 65,702 63,437 58,780 61,090 

Information Technology: 

NITC/USDA...................................................................................... 41,368 21,862 18,469 18,469 

Client Technology Services............................................... 263 14,283 13,553 13,642 

Enterprise Network Services............................................. 3,491 6,395 7,308 8,635 

Subtotal.......................................................................................... 45,122 42,540 39,330 40,746 

Total, Working Capital Fund............................................................. 122,754 118,250 109,506 113,668 

Department-Wide Reimbursable Programs: 

1890's USDA Initiatives....................................................................... 993 1,141 1,078 1,078 

Advisory Committee Liaison Services (White House Liaison Office) 262 206 220 220 

Continuity of Operations Planning....................................................... 628 628 607 607 

E-GOV Initiatives HSPD-12 (Identity and Access Management)........ 2,123 2,069 1,933 1,933 

Emergency Operations Center.............................................................. 734 722 672 672 

Facility and Infrastructure Review and Assessment............................. 136 140 129 129 

Faith-Based Initiatives and Neighborhood Partnerships....................... 120 124 115 115 

Hispanic-Serving Institutions National Program.................................. 552 603 569 569 

Honor Awards....................................................................................... 243 0 22 22 

USDA Human Resources Transformation (inc. Diversity Council)..... 482 514 504 504 

Intertribal Technical Assistance Network............................................. 964 926 885 885 

Medical Services................................................................................... 44 39 47 47 

Personnel and Document Security (Personnel Security Branch).......... 336 309 276 276 

 
22 

Department-Wide Reimbursable Programs Continued: 2016 

Actual 

2017 

Actual 

2018 

Estimate 

2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Pre-authorizing Funding........................................................................ 1,168 1,034 1,063 1,063 

Retirement Processor/Web Application................................................ 182 181 172 172 

TARGET Center.................................................................................. 452 451 415 415 

USDA 1994 Program............................................................................ 216 246 224 224 

Virtual University................................................................................. 622 620 570 570 

USDA Peoples Garden....................................................... 202 199 189 189 

Classified National Security Information.................................. 233 225 216 216 

Total, Department-Wide Reimbursable Programs............................ 10,481 10,374 9,904 9,904 

E-Gov: 

Budget Formulation and Execution Line of Business........................... 30 30 33 33 

E-Training............................................................................................ 848 0 0 0 

Financial Management Line of Business.............................................. 78 100 100 100 

Geospatial Line of Business.................................................................. 49 13 13 13 

Grants.gov............................................................................................ 121 1 1 1 

Human Resources Line of Business...................................................... 86 86 91 91 

Integrated Acquisition Environment..................................................... 658 771 786 849 

E-Rulemaking........................................................................................ 108 40 50 41 

Enterprise HR Integration...................................................................... 616 616 621 621 

FOIA...................................................................................................... 0 0 0 2 

Total, E-Gov..................................................................................... 2,594 1,657 1,695 1,752 

Agency Total................................................................................. 135,829 130,118 121,105 125,324 
23 

Summary of Performance 

Mission Statement 

The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and 

grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. 

Performance Overview 

The Forest Service has an established performance management framework that supports the identification, 

development, and use of evidence in decision-making. The framework ensures programs focus on all aspects of a 

robust performance management system to demonstrate achievement and progress towards sustaining the health, 

diversity, and productivity of America’s forests and grasslands and making them more resilient to threats and 

disturbances. 

The Forest Service Strategic Plan details the goals and objectives for the major functions of the organization and 

aligns with the USDA Strategic Plan. The annual performance data provide a picture of what and how our programs 

are doing in relation to these goals and outcomes. Program and regional reviews helps us to understand “why” or 

“what” about them is working. In FY 2017, the Forest Service initiated a review of existing performance measures 

and our overall approach to performance management and reporting. This effort highlighted our strengths and 

weaknesses in identifying a full suite of evidence that can help demonstrate progress towards established goals, and 

program impact. Areas identified for improvement include developing more outcome-oriented measures (such as 

watersheds in properly functioning condition) to complement output-based measures (such as number of acres 

treated); using more robust analytics to understand performance and administrative data; and systematically using 

more program and outcome evaluations to inform resource allocation decisions and help demonstrate achievement 

of intended outcomes. 

The Forest Service uses a number of processes and controls to ensure data quality and validity. Performance 

measures have a Data Quality Assurance Plan that establishes data stewardship roles and responsibilities at various 

levels in the agency, and provides training modules tailored to roles intended to establish uniformity in staff 

knowledge base on data stewardship. Field staff and managers are responsible for the completeness and quality of 

the data. Regional leadership certifies performance of all appropriate procedures to ensure validity and reliability of 

performance data, and to document data that do not meet the standard. In FY 2017, all measures had a Data Quality 

Assurance Plan. The following paragraphs include (1) highlights of recent accomplishments and new evidence for 

each strategic goal; and (2) a table presenting key agency and Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) 

performance measures. 

Goal 1 – Sustain Our Nation’s Forests and Grasslands 

The agency continues to maintain high levels of accomplishment for key restoration and management activities 

critical to sustaining National Forests and Grasslands. One of the agency’s performance goals is that 54 percent of 

national forest and grassland watersheds are in properly functioning condition by the year 2020. Watersheds are an 

integral part of the landscape, and provide clean water, habitat, recreational opportunities, and other services to the 

local communities and visitors. In FY 2017, more than 3.2 million acres of forest and grasslands received treatments 

that improved or maintained the watershed function, resulting in 53 percent of national forest and grassland 

watersheds in properly functioning condition. This composite indicator shows progress and treatments on the ground 

accomplished through a wide variety of restoration actions and programs. Additionally, more than 3,700 miles of 

stream habitat were restored or enhanced – improving access and habitat of listed species and recreationallyimportant fisheries. 

To complement these output measures of acres and miles treated, we are developing an Assessment Model that will 

inform a new outcome-oriented performance measure that focuses on the condition of large terrestrial landscapes. 

The Terrestrial Condition Assessment (TCA) was developed collaboratively by Forest Service program and research 

staff to assess resource conditions and evaluate multiple stressors (e.g., insect infestations, and drought) and 

uncharacteristic conditions (e.g., increased hazardous fuels compared to historical conditions) on terrestrial 

landscapes. In addition to informing performance measures, the TCA will improve transparency for terrestrial 

restoration investments, and provide a data-driven, consistent method for assessing the restoration needs of 
24 

terrestrial landscapes. In FY 2017, we continued refining of the Assessment itself and developed recommended 

performance measures informed by the TCA. We anticipate introducing a TCA outcome-oriented measure in the FY 

2020 Congressional Budget Justification. 

The Forest Service has also refined how we account for acres treated for hazardous fuels. One measure, Acreage 

treated to reduce or maintain fuel conditions on National Forest System (NFS) and non-federal lands, is an outputbased measure that tracks acres of all types of hazardous fuels treatments awarded or completed in a given fiscal 

year. This provides important information on activity levels and outputs in each year. It often requires completing 

multiple types of fuels treatments on the same acre in order to achieve the final desired result of mitigating wildfire 

risk. A second, more outcome-oriented measure, Acreage of NFS lands where final treatment effectively mitigated 

wildfire risk, was introduced in FY 2016 to better understand the number of acres where all planned treatments have 

been completed and have resulted in the final intended result of mitigating wildfire risk. An example of these 

performance measures demonstrating progress toward meeting land management goals can be seen in Montana, 

where efforts to restore ecosystem function and reduce the risk to public and firefighter safety demonstrated 

numerous returns during the peak of the 2017 fire season. More than 23 percent of land along the I-90 corridor near 

Missoula received fuel reduction treatments over the past several years. In FY 2017, fires originating in areas that 

had been treated were extinguished during initial attack because the fire activity there occurred within historical 

norms of lower intensity surface fire because of the treatments, the response was more efficient and helped reduce 

risk to the nearby communities. These landscape scale fuels treatments are part of a long-term investment in the I-90 

corridor, including over 10,000 acres of priority treatments to protect values at risk and improve ecosystem function. 

Goal 2 – Deliver Benefits to the Public 

America’s forests and grasslands play pivotal roles in providing a wide range of benefits to the American people. 

Rural economies depend on the natural resources from the forests and grasslands and access to public lands. These 

natural resources indirectly contribute billions of dollars to the national economy and enhance the quality of life in 

many local communities. In FY 2017, the Forest Service sold over 2.9 billion board feet of timber and issued more 

than 250,000 forest product permits, which is estimated to have generated over 43,000 jobs and about $3.2 billion in 

gross domestic product. In Alaska, commercial salmon harvest continues banner production, with the recent harvest 

of 219 million pink salmon providing significant contributions to local economies. Almost half of the pink salmon 

harvested originate from streams on the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska and production of these 

prolific wild pink salmon populations benefit from continued watershed and stream restoration efforts. A recent 

economic study valued Southeast Alaskan salmon at $986 million, including the combined commercial, recreational, 

and unique subsistence fishery in Alaska. 

The National Forest System provides a vast array of recreational opportunities to millions of Americans, including 

hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. National Forest System lands include the Nation’s largest trail system, over 

5,000 campgrounds, more than 30,000 recreation areas, two million acres of lakes, 200,000 miles of fishable 

streams, and over 120 downhill ski areas – some of the most diverse outdoor recreation opportunities in the world. 

The agency uses the National Visitor Use Monitoring program to measure visitor satisfaction with recreational 

facilities, services, and settings. In FY 2017, visitor satisfaction was rated at 95 percent, reflecting our continued 

efforts to improve customer service provide access to quality landscapes, offer a variety of recreation opportunities 

and settings, and maintain recreation facilities to acceptable standards. In support of the agency’s goal to advance 

winter recreation activities, we published the final Over-Snow Vehicles rule, Part C of the Travel Management Rule, 

a policy that sets principles for consistent field implementation. The new rule expands winter recreation 

opportunities for the public and provides additional economic benefits for communities, while ensuring natural 

resource protection. For non-motorized recreation, recent Forest Service research showed how wilderness areas 

contribute to the economic health of rural communities. Nearly 10 million people visit wilderness areas annually, 

and spend about $500 million in adjacent communities. Annual visitor expenditures in wilderness areas generate 

about 5,700 jobs, resulting in over $700 million in total economic output. 

Goal 3 – Apply Knowledge Globally 

The Forest Service provides land managers and partners with information, applications, and tools that help improve 

resource management and decision-making. We are continuously developing our understanding of complex 

environmental processes, biological and physical conditions, resource uses, human and social dimensions, the 

economic value of the resources we manage, and the interconnectivity among these elements. USDA’s research in 
25 

forestry, ecology, and economics ensures that world-class science guides effective policies and management 

practices. In FY 2017, the Forest Service delivered 309 original research products which developed implementable 

scientific knowledge. In one of these products, Forest Service scientists examined the effect of low severity fire on 

insect resistance in trees, both with and without prescribed fire. Findings indicate that, much like a vaccine, lowseverity fire can trigger a long-lasting defense that may increase tree survival from subsequent beetle outbreaks. 

Thus, trees that are subjected to risk mitigation and restoration treatments including prescribed fire are likely to be 

more resilient to subsequent beetle outbreaks. This research informs and helps guide management activities to 

increase resilience in forested ecosystems. 

Developing effective technologies and applications, and sharing them with our partners helps the Forest Service and 

others across the Nation and around the world manage forests and grasslands sustainably. In FY 2017, the Forest 

Service developed a new tablet-based reporting technology called Digital Mobile Sketch Mapping which allows 

surveyors to record forest disturbances and their causes. This methodology and tool captures all forest health issues 

that are detectable by aerial survey and can also be used in ground surveying. The upgrade covers almost 500 

million acres of all forests in 49 States across the Nation. The system is approximately 90 percent less costly and 

completes survey reports more timely than the legacy system. This increase in survey capacity and the ability to turn 

the data into treatment action on the ground is invaluable to maintaining forested lands and focusing treatment 

activity to the highest risk areas. Hawaii, one of the first States to adopt this technology, is using it to track the 

spread of rapid ōhi’a death fungus, helping land managers contain a disease that spreads quickly and causes 

irreversible damage to the culturally valued Hawaiian ōhi’a tree. 

Through agency programs, such as Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA), Forest Health Monitoring, and our National 

Forest System land management planning and monitoring work, we provide data, reports, maps, and consultation 

services to natural resource managers, landowners, policymakers, researchers, analysts, and other interested parties. 

FIA reports on status and trends in forest area and location; species, size, and health of trees; total tree growth, 

mortality, and removals by harvest; wood production and utilization rates by various products; and in forest land 

ownership. In FY 2017, 98 percent of the nation had current and accessible FIA data. The FIA assessments extend to 

the trust territories and Puerto Rico and include reports on changes in carbon budgets and forest health. The agency 

derives many benefits from FIA information, including supporting planning and ecosystem management practices, 

monitoring forest health, and anticipating climate change impacts to forests. The agency supports the creation of 

better tools to make the FIA data easier to access, and to help the public get what they need from the databases. For 

example, we created an online tool called “EVALIDator” that summarizes inventory data on the FIA website, and is 

accessible to the public. FIA data and the “EVALIDator” tool are examples of products and services that provide for 

timely analyses of scientifically sound information, leading to better informed management decisions. 

 
26 

Performance Measure 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Actual Actual Actual Actual Target Actual Target Target

Percent of watersheds in properly functioning 

condition 52 52 52 53 53 53 53 52 

Acres treated annually to sustain or restore 

watershed function and resilience 2,533,121 2,906,018 3,100,979 3,214,598 2,900,000 3,261,444 2,400,000 2,100,000 

Number of watersheds moved to an improved 

condition class 12 10 19 21 22 17 19 14 

Miles of stream habitat restored or enhanced 4,168 3,488 3,465 3,832 3,450 3,747 3,070 2,700 

Volume of timber sold (million board feet 

(MMBF)) 2,610 2,831 2,867 2,942 3,200 2,920 3,400 3,700 

Acreage treated to reduce or maintain fuel 

conditions on NFS and non-federal lands 2,620,000 2,540,000 2,540,000 3,230,000 1,890,000 2,780,000 3,000,000 3,400,000 

Acreage of NFS lands where final treatment 

effectively mitigates wildfire risk n/a n/a n/a 866,113 1,300,000 740,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 

Communities assisted (number) 11,562 10,141 16,859 13,814 12,500 13,204 12,500 12,500 

Volunteer fire departments assisted (number) 10,429 11,018 9,318 14,228 8,500 8,821 7,650 8,500 

Index of wildfire risk across NFS lands n/a n/a n/a 100 100 100 100 99 

Acres of nonindustrial private forest land that 

are being managed sustainably under forest 

stewardship management plans. 2,178,735 3,203,423 1,816,538 1,980,530 1,500,000 1,404,222 1,350,000 1,200,000 

Acres treated for native and invasive pests 781,967 814,163 961,728 1,045,247 674,842 859,119 674,842 718,000 

Miles of passenger car roads receiving 

maintenance 34,281 36,824 35,028 33,378 30,000 29,685 30,000 12,000 

Percent of customers satisfied with recreation 

facilities, services, and settings 94 94 95 95 95 95 95 95 

Percent of recreation facilities with a "Good" 

or "Fair" condition rating 73 77 77 77 74 77 74 60 

Percent of system trail miles that meet 

national quality standards 22 23 22 24 27 22 27 12 

Percent of Nation with accessible FIA data 96 98 98 98 100 98 100 100 

Customer satisfaction index score for R&D 79 79 76 76 76 76 77 77 

Science Delivery Products n/a 429 442 310 486 308 261 265 

Number of volunteers and service 

participants caring for the land and serving 

people n/a 109,800 100,146 104,320 110,000 113,316 115,000 117,000 

 
27 

Forest and Rangeland Research 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes 

1 

2 

3 

For necessary expenses of forest and rangeland research as authorized by law, 

[$306,216,000]$260,800,000, to remain available [until expended]through September 30, 2022: 

Provided, That of the funds provided under this heading, [$77,000,000]$75,000,000 is for the forest 

inventory and analysis program, and $14,750,000 is for research activities and to make competitive 

research grants pursuant to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act, (16 U.S.C. 

1641 et seq.). 

Of the unobligated balances from prior year appropriations available under this heading for the 

Joint Fire Science Program, $2,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

The first change adds clarifying language. 

The second change proposes authorization of funds to activities and grants pursuant to the Forest and 

Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act. 

The third change proposes cancellation of unobligated balances. 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $260,800,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 306,216,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. -45,416,000

 
28 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)
29 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Obligations:

Forest and Rangeland Research................... $264,418 1,746 $226,343 1,464 $177,264 1,464 -$38,262 -609 $139,002 855 

Forest Inventory and Analysis .................... - - 66,748 168 66,651 168 -2,651 -4 64,000 164 

National Fire Plan a/ ....................................... 19,701 99 21,846 107 19,661 107 -5,661 -26 14,000 81 

Joint Fire Science............................................. 4,967 8 7,165 5 2,980 5 -2,980 -5 - - 

Research - Other b/......................................... 44,014 - 369 - 38,845 - -845 - 38,000 - 

Total Obligations............................................. 333,101 1,853 322,471 1,744 305,401 1,744 -50,399 -644 255,002 1,100 

Bal. Available, EOY............................................ 12,510 - 1,799 - 1,799 - +3,798 - 5,597 - 

Total Available................................................ 345,611 1,853 324,270 1,744 307,200 1,744 -46,601 -644 260,599 1,100

Transfers In......................................................... -43,209 -107 -19,795 -107 - - - - - - 

Transfers Out...................................................... 3,046 - 1,362 - - - - - - - 

Rescission c/....................................................... - - 815 - 815 - +1,185 - 2,000 - 

Bal. Available, SOY............................................ -9,531 - -12,510 - -1,799 - - - -1,799 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net)..................................... -4,917 - -5,628 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation........................................ 291,000 1,746 288,514 1,637 306,216 1,744 -45,416 -644 260,800 1,100

Notes:

a/ Proposed to be moved from Wildland Fire Management in FY 2019; FY 2018 moved for comparability

b/ Other includes cost pool authority, except in FY 2017

c/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation 

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
30 

Justifications 

Four Year Summary of Appropriations and Staff Years 

(Dollars in thousands) 

FY 2019 Strategic Program Areas Funding Table 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Strategy Priority 

Area 

Forest 

Disturbances 

Watershed 

Management 

and 

Restoration 

Bioenergy 

and 

Biobased 

Products 

Nanotechnology National Forest 

System Lands 

Research 

Total 

Funding 

Percent of 

Total R&D 

Funding 

Wildland Fire and 

Fuels Research $234 $1,495 $194 0 $11,990 $13,913 8% 

Invasive Species 

Research 158 970 74 0 27,356 28,558 17% 

Recreation Research 

0 0 0 0 6,961 6,961 4% 

Resource 

Management and Use 

Research 12,529 2,212 9,299 $3,706 37,779 65,525 38% 

Water, Air and Soil 

Research 1,633 7,898 194 0 17,938 27,663 16% 

Wildlife and Fish 

Research 2,563 4,867 0 0 14,705 22,135 13% 

Inventory and 

Monitoring Research 4,380 737 273 0 905 6,295 4% 

Total $21,497 $18,179 $10,034 $3,706 $117,634 $171,050 100% 

*The total funding for the Strategic Program Area does not include funding for Forest Inventory and Analysis or the National 

Fire Plan. 

Forest and Rangeland Research 

(1) A decrease of $39,028,000 and 614 staff years ($210,078,000 and 1,469 staff years available in 2018). 

Forest Service Research and Development (R&D) provides scientific information and new technology that supports 

the sustainable management of the Nation’s forests and grasslands. Research products inform policy and landmanagement decisions, provide information, and transfers technology designed to provide economic, health, and 

environmental benefits to the American public. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Forest Service R&D is at the forefront of science to improve the health and use of our Nation’s forests and 

grasslands, and covers a wide variety of topics including, but not limited to forest restoration, insect and 

disease management, wildland fire, and water quality and quantity. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of ensuring the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System (NFS) lands. Forest Service R&D conducts research across forest ownerships and the landscape continuum 

to deliver science products that is vital to the active management of NFS lands. Forest Service R&D is working with 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Forest and Rangeland Research $291,000 1,746 $211,514 1,469 $210,078 1,469 -$39,028 (1) -614 $171,050 855 

Forest Inventory and Analysis - - 77,000 168 76,477 168 -1,477 (2) -4 75,000 164 

National Fire Plan - - - - 19,661 107 -4,911 (3) -26 14,750 81 

Forest & Rangeland Research Total 291,000 1,746 288,514 1,637 306,216 1,744 -45,416 -644 260,800 1,100

Program

 2019 President's 

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
31 

other Federal science agencies through collaborations and partnerships to identify priority research areas and reduce 

duplication across the Federal science community. 

Forest Service R&D funding will be prioritized for activities that have the highest impact in meeting agency goals 

and objectives. Such funds will be used to support 855 staff years and conduct research at five Research Stations, the 

International Institute of Tropical Forestry, and the Forest Products Laboratory. Funds address six Priority Research 

Area (PRA) programs, which focus on the emerging needs and agency priorities, and seven Strategic Program Areas 

that encompass our research capacity to address the PRAs. 

The FY 2019 budget request directs that the Forest Service focus on research that supports the management of NFS 

lands and the agency’s wildland fire suppression efforts. Specific increases and decreases from the annualized FY 

2018 Continuing Resolution budget levels across the Strategic Program Areas (SPAs) include: 

a) A decrease of $5,606,000 from Urban Natural Resource Stewardship. At the proposed funding level, 

Urban Natural Resource Stewardship research will be terminated. 

b) A decrease of $6,634,000 for the Wildland Fire and Fuels SPA. The FY 2019 budget request proposes 

$13,913,000 for air quality including research on smoke and prescribed fire, managing social dynamics of 

fire in wildland-urban interface areas, and wildfire research technology transfer efforts. Additional fire 

research funding is supported by the Fire Plan - Research and Development budget line at $14,750,000. 

c) A decrease of $3,217,000 for the Invasive Species SPA. The FY 2019 budget request proposes 

$28,558,000 for research that provides information and technology needed to reduce or eliminate the 

spread or impact of invasive species. See the “Funding for Selected Insects, Diseases and Invasive Plants 

by Fiscal Year” table in the Forest Health Management Overview for proposed investment levels, by 

insect, disease, or pathogen.

d) An increase of $4,010,000 for the Recreation Research SPA. The FY 2019 budget proposes $6,961,000. 

The increase in funding will be utilized to develop the knowledge and tools need to inform management 

decisions that maintain and improve outdoor recreation opportunities for current and future generations 

while sustaining healthy ecosystems and economies. 

e) A decrease of $19,478,000 for the Resource Management and Use SPA. The FY 2019 budget request 

proposes $65,525,000 for research that provides the scientific and technological base to sustainably 

manage and use forest resources and fiber-based products. 

f) A decrease of $4,372,000 for the Water, Air, and Soil SPA. The FY 2019 budget request proposes 

$27,663,000 for research that enables the sustainable management of water, air, and soil resources by 

providing information on how forests can support clean air and drinking water through improved 

resilience. 

g) A decrease of $2,148,000 for the Wildlife and Fish SPA. The FY 2019 budget request proposes 

$22,135,000 for research that provides knowledge and tools to sustain the health, diversity, and 

productivity of aquatic and terrestrial animals on the Nation’s forests and grasslands. 

h) A decrease of $1,583,000 for the Inventory and Monitoring SPA. The FY 2019 budget request includes 

$6,295,000 for the inventory and monitoring on the status and trends of the Nation's renewable resources 

on all forest and rangelands, as required by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act 

of 1974. 

Forest Inventory and Analysis 

(2) A decrease of $1,477,000 and 4 staff years ($76,477,000 and 168 staff years in 2018). 

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is the Nation's foremost continuous forest census covering all 50 

States. The FIA program generates data on past, current, and projected tree numbers by species; the size and health 

of trees; tree growth, mortality, and harvest removals; loss of forested lands due to disturbances, such as hurricanes 
32 

and wildland fires; wood production and utilization; and forest landownership. FIA leverages one partner dollar for 

every six Federal dollars spent, and provides current and historical information that informs forest management 

planning across the country. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 FIA data is essential to making sound investment decisions in forest management activities and land 

management planning, in ensuring the long-term health of forests, and in prolonging the availability of 

multiple uses from forests. 

 Benefits derived from FIA include evaluation of wildlife habitat conditions, assessing sustainability of 

current and anticipated ecosystem management practices, monitoring forest health, supporting planning and 

decision-making activities undertaken by public and private enterprises, and anticipating climate change 

impacts to forests. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of Ensuring the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands. Forest Service R&D works closely with State forestry agencies and other partners to achieve the FIA 

mission. The FIA “census for trees” program positions States and public and private landowners to implement and 

profit from alternative energy and ecosystem service markets focused on carbon sequestration and the conversion of 

woody biomass to energy. The FIA data enables the natural resource community to understand the magnitude of 

changes in forest conditions and trends, and to make projections of future conditions - information which is vital to 

the long-term health of forests and the sustained availability of multiple uses from forests. 

Funds will be used to support 164 staff years, to enhance the use and value of our Nation’s forests and grasslands by 

providing the resource data, analysis, and tools needed to assess current status and trends of forests; management 

options and impacts; and threats from fire, insects, disease, and natural processes. Assessing current and potential 

effects of climate change depends on monitoring those forest ecosystems at greatest risk to rapid change. 

The funding change is requested for the following item: 

a) A decrease of $1,477,000 for the Forest Inventory and Analysis program. 

At the proposed funding level, the FIA program will continue to monitor forest conditions in all 50 states 

including interior Alaska. The re-measurement intervals will continue to be seven years in the eastern 

United States and 10-years in the western United States. 

National Fire Plan 

(3) A decrease of $4,911,000 and 26 staff years ($19,661,000 and 107 staff years in 2018). 

The National Fire Plan program conducts research to support management of fire-affected landscapes to sustain 

forest health, reduce the risk of damaging wildland fires, and ensure public and firefighter safety. The program 

supports wildland fire management and research activities for the benefit of land managers and policy makers. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 The program provides knowledge and tools managers can use to reduce the negative impacts of wildfire 

and enhance the beneficial effects of fire and fire management. 

 The program guides fire suppression efforts, demonstrates and accounts for the effectiveness of hazardous 

fuels treatments, informs the allocation of funding for fuels management and restoration, and identifies 

opportunities to use biomass from forest thinning treatments. 

The National Fire Plan program is managed under a strategic plan outlining five areas: (1) core fire science, (2) 

ecological and environmental fire science, (3) social fire science, (4) integrated fire and fuels management research, 

and (5) science application. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of ensuring the productive and sustainable use of NFS lands. It is 

estimated that 78 million acres of NFS lands and 70,000 communities are at risk from uncharacteristically severe 
33 

wildfires. Annually, there are more than 7,000 fires on NFS lands. National Fire Plan research develops and delivers 

information, products, and tools to respond to fires safely and effectively, help communities and homeowners 

mitigate fire risk, restore resilient landscapes, and support integrated, risk-based management. 

Funds will be used to support 81 staff years, help guide fire suppression efforts, demonstrate and account for the 

effectiveness of hazardous fuels treatments, inform the allocation of funding for fuels management and restoration, 

and identify opportunities to use biomass from forest thinning treatments. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $4,866,000 for wildland fire management and research activities for the benefit of land 

managers and policy makers. 

Funding will focus on research and tools needed to help communities mitigate fire risk and inform agency 

activities to create resilient landscapes. At the proposed funding levels there will be a loss of social fire 

science research which may put communities at risk. 

 
34 

Classification by Objects 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Personnel Compensation:

11.0 Total personnel compensation..................................... $148,123 $146,746 $139,410 $87,931

12.0 Personnel benefits.......................................................... 50,700 50,964 47,718 30,097

13.0 Benefits for former personnel........................................ 994 316 936 590

Total, personnel comp. and benefits......................... 199,817 198,026 188,064 118,618

Other Objects:

21.0 Travel and transportation of persons.......................... 7,953 7,283 6,867 7,982

22.0 Transportation of things................................................ 1,988 1,478 1,394 1,620

23.1 Rent payments to GSA................................................... 3,976 4,239 3,997 4,646

23.2 Rental payments to others............................................. 3,976 4,113 3,878 4,508

23.3 Communications, utilities, and misc. charges............. 6,959 7,117 6,710 7,800

24.0 Printing and reproduction.............................................. 994 498 470 546

25.1 Advisory and assistance services............................... 25 167 157 183

25.2 Other Services................................................................. 20,876 18,358 17,309 20,119

25.3 Purchases of goods and services................................. 19,882 17,661 16,652 19,355

25.4 Operation and maintenance of facilities...................... 994 441 416 483

25.5 Research and development contracts.......................... 40,759 40,309 38,007 44,176

25.6 Medical care..................................................................... 4 4 4 4

25.7 Operation and maintenance of equipment.................. 994 1,308 1,233 1,433

26.0 Supplies and materials.................................................... 6,959 5,964 5,623 6,536

31.0 Equipment........................................................................ 5,965 5,134 4,841 5,627

32.0 Land and Structures....................................................... 45 18 17 20

41.0 Grants................................................................................ 10,935 10,353 9,762 11,346

Total , Other Objects................................................... 133,284 124,445 117,337 136,384

99.9 Total, new obligations.............................................. 333,101 322,471 305,401 255,002

$23 $23 $21 $21

Position Data:

Average Salary (dollars), ES positions........................ $171,967 $174,424 $177,738 $177,738

Average Salary (dollars), GS positions........................ $82,517 $82,711 $84,282 $84,282

Average Grade, GS positions........................................ 10.7 10.7 10.8 10.8

DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3)...............
35 

Status of Programs 

Forest and Rangeland Research (Forest Service R&D) has been a core component of the Forest Service mission 

since the agency’s inception in 1905. Forest Service R&D conducts research at five regional research stations, plus 

the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Forest Products Laboratory in 

Madison, Wisconsin. Forest Service R&D laboratories are complemented by a network of 80 experimental forests. 

Forest and Rangeland Research 

Current Activities: 

Forest Service R&D provides scientific information and new technology to support sustainable management of the 

Nation’s diverse forests and rangelands. Activities inform policy and land management decisions by providing 

information through technology transfers designed to support economic, health, and environmental benefits for the 

American public. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Forest Service researchers are finalizing a new model for determining safety zones along the fire line that 

incorporates data from both field and laboratory experiments coupled with sophisticated fire behavior 

models. 

 Forest Service researchers are working with the National Forest System to identify the highest priority data 

and analyses to support the forest planning process. These results also support regional, State, and sub-State 

decisions on public and private lands. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

A forest vaccine: Forest Service scientists examined tree defenses both with and without prescribed fire to determine 

the effect of low severity fire on tree defenses. Findings indicated that low-severity fire can trigger a long-lasting 

defense that may increase tree survival from subsequent beetle outbreaks. Thus, trees that are subjected to risk 

mitigation and restoration treatments are likely to be more resilient to subsequent beetle outbreaks when prescribed 

fire is included as part of the treatment regime. 

Area-wide integrated management of emerald ash borer: Forest Service researchers participated in a large, multiagency pilot study to test the Slow Ash Mortality integrated strategy for managing emerald ash borer (EAB) using a 

combination of tactics including girdled trees, regulatory control, public outreach, tree removal, and insecticide 

treatments. These results contributed to improved area-wide management strategies, and the development of 

guidelines for forest managers and decision-makers to control EAB and protect ash trees. 

Wilderness areas contribute to economic health of rural communities: New Forest Service research showed that 

nearly 10 million people per year visit wilderness areas and spend about $500 million in adjacent communities. 

Annual visitor expenditures in wilderness areas generate about 5,700 jobs, resulting in over $700 million in total 

economic output. Maintaining the character and ecological health of wilderness areas are key management goals 

and, because of the relative permanence of this land use, wilderness areas support the economic sustainability of 

rural communities. 

Forest Inventory and Analysis 

Current Activities: 

Originally authorized by the McSweeney-McNary Forest Research Act of 1928 and most recently in the Forest and 

Rangeland Renewable Resources Act of 1978, the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is the Nation's 

foremost continuous forest census covering all 50 States. Working with State forestry agencies and other partners, 

FIA leverages one partner dollar for every six Federal dollars spent. FIA generates data on past, current, and 

projected tree numbers by species; the size and health of trees; tree growth, mortality, and harvest removals; loss of 

forested lands due to disturbances, such as hurricanes and wildland fires; wood production and utilization; and forest 

landownership. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 
36 

 FIA is using a new annualized sample design to enhance the survey of wood-using facilities (also known as 

Timber Products Output) and national forest products output. 

 FIA is continuing base measurements for all 50 States, including interior Alaska, employing a seven-year 

base Federal measurement cycle in the east, and a 10-year base Federal measurement cycle in the west. In 

the east, partnerships have contributed to a five-year base measurement cycle in all States that agree to 

contribute resources to maintain this measurement cycle. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Urban FIA: The first urban forest inventory for Houston, TX was published in 2017. This area has about 33.3 

million live trees with tree canopy that covers 18.4 percent of the city. The compensatory value of the trees are 

estimated at $16.3 billion. Partners developed a “My City’s Trees” mobile application that provides interactive 

access to the increasing number of cities with urban FIA data. In FY 2017, there were active urban FIA projects in 

25 cities. 

Image-Based Change Estimation (ICE) project: The ICE project uses photo-interpretation aerial imagery to provide 

up-to-date estimates of land use and land cover on a statewide scale. The results allows FIA to quickly create 

valuable information about land use, land cover, and causes of landscape changes This project allows for consistent, 

timely, and reliable estimates on a time scale more current than the traditional FIA sample. 

National Fire Plan 

Current Activities: 

The Fire Plan for Research and Development (R&D) actively responds to severe wildland fires and their impacts to 

communities, while ensuring sufficient firefighting capacity for the future. The Fire Plan provides invaluable 

technical, financial, and resource guidance across the United States. Specific areas being addressed currently 

include: 

 Forest Service scientists established 190 long-term monitoring plots in previously treated (thinned and/or 

burned) and untreated dry forest stands that experienced different wildfire burn severities to determine the 

impact of extreme fire on fuel treatment effectiveness. 

 Forest Service scientists are conducting research to determine if restoring forest complexity will provide 

multiple ecosystem services, while also enhancing resilience to fire and related disturbances. This research 

will help land managers determine the appropriate thinning approaches for optimizing resilience. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Mitigating cheatgrass invasion during forest restoration: Forest Service scientists explored how cheatgrass responds 

to both the frequency and season of prescribed burning for a 10-year period in ponderosa pine forested stands. The 

researchers used long-term data from different spatial scales representing different invasion stages to model 

cheatgrass dynamics. These findings provide information for mitigating the risk of cheatgrass invasion during future 

restoration and conservation efforts in burned ponderosa pine forests. 

Managing trade-offs in restoration and risk mitigation activities: Forest Service researchers have developed new 

tools and analytical methods for prioritizing restoration projects and analyzing management tradeoffs. This research 

has demonstrated how wildfire exposure can be deconstructed across a complicated fragmented landscape to 

quantify how risk is shared among specific landowners and communities. Restoration planning teams use this 

research and tools in collaborative planning processes to streamline the prioritization of restoration activities. Tradeoffs among restoration goals can be clearly described to stakeholder groups, thus clarifying choices in the planning 

phase of restoration projects. 

Forecasting California tree mortality: Forest Service Forest Health Protection staff conducted aerial surveys to map 

the extent and severity of tree mortality in California. Utilizing this information, Forest Service researchers 

developed a tool that yields early, accurate forecasts of tree mortality. The 2015 forecast was only two percent 

outside the expected range of mortality, based on the later 2015 survey data. The FY 2017 mortality forecast map is 

being used by California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) to identify areas with increased fire 
37 

risk. Forest Service managers are also using the forecast to identify areas in need of spot treatment. The El Dorado 

National Forest, for example, used the mortality maps to strategically reduce the fire hazard in high-risk areas. 

Primary Authorities 

Title of Act or 

Program 

Summary of Authority Expiration Date 

(if applicable) 

Programs 

Affected 

Public Law 

Citation 

U.S.C. 

Reference 

Forest and 

Rangeland 

Renewable 

Resources Research 

Act of 1978 

An Act to direct the Secretary 

of Agriculture to carry out 

forest and rangeland renewable 

resources research, and for 

other purposes.

 R&D P.L. 95-307 16 U.S.C. 1641 

et seq. 

Forest Inventory and 

Analysis (FIA) 

Requires the Secretary of 

Agriculture to establish a 

program to inventory and 

analyze, in a timely manner, 

public and private forests and 

their resources in the United 

States. 

 R&D P.L. 105-

185 

16 U.S.C. 

1642(e) 

Agricultural Act of 

2014, Forest 

Products Advanced 

Utilization Research 

Amends the Agricultural 

Research, Extension and 

Education Reform Act of 1998 

to require the Secretary of 

Agriculture to establish a 

forestry and forest products 

research and extension 

initiative to develop and 

disseminate science-based 

tools that address the needs of 

the forestry sector. Activities 

must be carried out in 

coordination with the Forest 

Service, including the Forest 

Product’s Laboratory. 

9/30/2018 R&D P.L. 113-79 

Forest and 

Rangeland 

Renewable 

Resources Planning 

Act of 1974 

Requires preparation of a 

renewable resource 

assessment, program plans, 

inventories, and budget 

request, and an update to these 

plans every 10-years. 

 ALL P.L. 93-378 16 U.S.C. 1601 

et seq. 

Global Change 

Research Act of 1990 

Establishes the Committee on 

Earth and Environmental 

Sciences to carry out the 

United States Global Change 

Research Program, including 

the Forest Service Global 

Change Research Program. 

 R&D P.L. 101-606 15 U.S.C. 2931 

Global Climate 

Change Prevention 

Act of 1990 

Establishes a Global Climate 

Change Program at USDA to 

study the effects of global 

climate change on agriculture 

and forestry. The Program 

Director shall coordinate 

policy analysis, long range 

planning and research across 

the Department and with other 

09/30/2018 International 

Forestry; 

R&D 

P.L. 101-

624; P.L. 

107-171; 

P.L. 110-234 

7 U.S.C. 6701 

to 6710 
38 

Title of Act or 

Program 

Summary of Authority Expiration Date 

(if applicable) 

Programs 

Affected 

Public Law 

Citation 

U.S.C. 

Reference 

Agencies. The Act also 

establishes the Office of 

International Forestry to be 

responsible for the 

international forestry activities 

of the Forest Service and 

establishes the Institutes of 

Tropical Forestry; authorizes 

the creation of a pilot project in 

urban forestry. 

Granger-Thye Act of 

April 24, 1950 

This Act authorizes 

cooperation with other parties 

to perform work for permittees, 

agencies, organizations, and 

persons for work that the 

Forest Service is authorized to 

do on lands of the United 

States. Also allows for research 

funds to be advanced to 

cooperators. Authorizes 

assistance for work on lands 

other than Forest Service 

jurisdictions. 

 ALL P.L. 81-478 16 U.S.C. 572 

McIntire-Stennis Act 

of 1962 

Authorizes the Secretary of 

Agriculture to cooperate and 

assist State colleges and 

universities in forestry research 

on a matching funds basis. 

Authorizes the Secretary of 

Agriculture to make 

competitive grants to a State 

agricultural experiment station, 

college, or university, research 

institution or organization, 

Federal agency, private 

organization, or corporation 

with the demonstrable capacity 

to conduct forestry, natural 

resource, and environmental 

research; and to update 

research facilities and 

equipment available for this 

type of research. 

 R&D and 

SPF 

P.L. 87-788; 

P.L. 101-624 

16 U.S.C. 582a 

and 582a-1-

582a-7 

Research Facilities 

Act of 1963 

This Act authorizes support for 

agricultural research (including 

forestry) at eligible institutions 

through Federal grant funds, on 

a matching funds basis, to help 

finance physical facilities and 

equipment as required for the 

effective conduct of 

agricultural research and 

related academic programs. 

 R&D P.L. 88-74; 

P.L. 95-113; 

P.L. 99-198 

7 U.S.C. 390 - 

390c 
39 

Title of Act or 

Program 

Summary of Authority Expiration Date 

(if applicable) 

Programs 

Affected 

Public Law 

Citation 

U.S.C. 

Reference 

Research Grants Act 

of 1958 

Provides, authorized agencies 

to enter into contracts for basic 

scientific research with 

nonprofit institution and 

organizations, authority to 

make grants to such institutions 

and organizations; title to 

equipment purchased with such 

grants being vested with the 

nonprofit organization or 

institution. Such sums as are 

necessary; no expiration date. 

 R&D P.L. 85-934 42 U.S.C. 

1891-1893 

 
40 

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41 

State and Private Forestry 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes 

1 

2 

3 

For necessary expenses of cooperating with and providing technical and financial assistance to 

States, territories, possessions, and others, and for forest health management, including treatments of 

pests, pathogens, and invasive or noxious plants, and for restoring and rehabilitating forests damaged by 

pests or invasive plants, cooperative forestry, and education and land conservation activities [and 

conducting an international program] as authorized, [$319,737,000]$182,296,000, to remain available 

[until expended]through September 30, 2022, as authorized by law: Provided, That of the funds provided 

under this heading, $65,930,000 is for National Fire Capacity, and $11,020,000 is for Rural Fire Capacity 

under section 10 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2106). 

Of the unobligated balances from amounts available under this heading and derived from the Land 

and Water Conservation Fund for the Forest Legacy Program from projects with costs savings or failed or 

partially failed projects for which funds were deobligated, $4,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

Of the unobligated balances from prior year appropriations available under this heading, the 

following balances are hereby permanently cancelled: $1,000,000 from appropriations for Landscape 

Scale Restoration; $2,000,000 from appropriations for International Forestry; and $3,000,000 from 

appropriations for Urban and Community Forestry. 

 

The first change provides funding for the National Fire Capacity and Rural Fire Capacity programs 

(moved from Wildland Fire Management). 

The second and third changes propose cancellation of unobligated balances from appropriations for 

Forest Legacy, Landscape Scale Restoration, International Forestry, and Urban and Community Forestry. 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $182,296,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 319,737,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. -137,441,000

 
42 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Appropriations:

Landscape Scale Restoration......................... $14,201 - $13,910 2 $13,405 2 -$14,405 -2 -$1,000 - 

FHM - Federal Lands...................................... 54,925 296 40,380 285 43,701 285 -1,733 -21 41,968 264 

FHM - Cooperative Lands.............................. 41,648 86 33,698 90 35,893 90 -4,044 -13 31,849 77 

Working Forest Lands a/................................ 56 23,727 18,019 54 17,005 54 +852 -5 17,857 49 

Forest Legacy Program................................... 79,518 27 34,345 28 48,975 28 -52,975 -28 -4,000 - 

Community Forest & Open Space 

Conservation....................................... - 2,955 1,892 - 1,986 - -1,986 - - - 

Urban and Community Forestry.................... 26,446 49 26,045 53 24,955 53 -27,955 -53 -3,000 - 

International Programs.................................... 8,735 40 7,043 51 6,999 51 -8,999 -51 -2,000 - 

National Fire Capacity b/................................ - - - - 77,470 57 -13,358 -13 64,112 44 

Rural Fire Capacity c/...................................... - - - - 14,898 - -3,878 - 11,020 - 

State and Private Forestry - Other d/............ 20,193 - 17,268 - 18,948 - -3,458 - 15,490 - 

Total Adjusted Approp..................................... 272,348 554 192,600 563 304,235 620 -131,939 -186 172,296 434

Rescissions, Transfers, and Seq. (Net)........... -35,325 - 36,323 - 15,502 - -5,502 - 10,000 - 

Total Appropriation........................................ 237,023 554 228,923 563 319,737 620 -137,441 -186 182,296 434

Transfers In:

Fire Transfer Repayment................................ 35,257 - - - - - - - - - 

International Programs (SPMF)..................... 1,677 - - - - - - - - - 

Total................................................................ 36,934 - - - - - - - - - 

Transfers Out:

Forest Health to Department of Interior....... - -1,579 -1,258 - - - - - - - 

Forest Health to Air Force Academy............ - -30 - - - - - - - - 

Fire Transfer..................................................... - - -19,563 - - - - - - - 

Total................................................................ -1,609 - -20,821 - - - - - - - 

Rescission e/....................................................... - - -15,502 - -15,502 - +5,502 - -10,000 - 

Bal. Available, SOY............................................ 20,947 - 69,348 - 19,811 - -3,000 - 16,811 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net)..................................... 17,279 - 18,403 - - - - - - - 

Total Available................................................. 310,574 554 280,351 563 324,046 620 -134,939 -186 189,107 434

Lapsing Balances................................................ -177 - -225 - -100 - - - -100 - 

Bal. Available, EOY............................................ -69,348 - -19,811 - -16,811 - +10,000 - -6,811 - 

Total Obligations................................................ 241,226 554 260,540 563 307,235 620 -124,939 0 -186 182,296 434

Notes:

a/ Previously Forest Stewardship

b/ National Fire Capacity is shifted from Wildland Fire Management in FY 2019; FY 2018 is shifted for comparability; previously State Fire Assistance

c/ Rural Fire Capacity is shifted from Wildland Fire Management in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability; previously Volunteer Fire Assistance

d/ Other includes cost pool authority

e/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
43 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Obligations:

Landscape Scale Restoration......................... $14,201 - $14,248 2 $13,405 2 -$13,405 -2 - - 

FHM - Federal Lands...................................... 52,774 296 48,710 285 43,701 285 -1,733 -21 $41,968 264 

FHM - Cooperative Lands.............................. 39,191 86 41,017 90 35,893 90 -4,044 -13 31,849 77 

Working Forest Lands a/................................ 56 23,336 21,483 54 17,005 54 +852 -5 17,857 49 

Forest Legacy Program................................... 66,707 27 62,209 28 51,975 28 -51,975 -28 - - 

Community Forest & Open Space 

Conservation....................................... - 2,952 2,000 - 1,986 - -1,986 - - - 

Urban and Community Forestry.................... 25,905 49 29,802 53 24,955 53 -24,955 -53 - - 

International Programs.................................... -4,094 40 8,397 51 6,999 51 -6,999 -51 - - 

National Fire Capacity b/................................ - - - - 77,470 57 -13,358 -13 64,112 44 

Rural Fire Capacity c/...................................... - - - - 14,898 - -3,878 - 11,020 - 

State and Private Forestry - Other d/............ 20,254 - 32,674 - 18,948 - -3,458 - 15,490 - 

Total Obligations............................................. 241,226 554 260,540 563 307,235 620 -124,939 -186 182,296 434

Bal. Available, EOY............................................ 69,348 - 19,811 - 16,811 - -10,000 - 6,811 - 

Total Available................................................. 310,574 554 280,351 563 324,046 620 -134,939 -186 189,107 434

Transfers In......................................................... -36,934 - - - - - - - - - 

Transfers Out...................................................... 1,609 - 20,821 - - - - - - - 

Lapsing Balances................................................ 177 - 225 - 100 - - - 100 - 

Rescission /e....................................................... - - 15,502 - 15,502 - -5,502 - 10,000 - 

Bal. Available, SOY............................................ -20,947 - -69,348 - -19,811 - +3,000 - -16,811 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net)..................................... -17,279 - -18,403 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation........................................ 237,023 554 228,923 563 319,737 620 -137,441 -186 182,296 434

Notes:

a/ Previously Forest Stewardship

b/ National Fire Capacity is shifted from Wildland Fire Management in FY 2019; FY 2018 is shifted for comparability; previously State Fire Assistance

c/ Rural Fire Capacity is shifted from Wildland Fire Management in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability; previously Volunteer Fire Assistance

d/ Other includes cost pool spending

e/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation 

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
44 

Justifications 

Four Year Summary of Appropriations and Staff Years 

(Dollars in thousands)

Landscape Scale Restoration 

(1) A decrease of $13,905,000 and 2 staff years ($13,905,000 and 2 staff years in 2018). 

The Landscape Scale Restoration program enables States to pursue landscape scale projects that focus on priorities 

identified in their State Forest Action Plans and ensures the Nation’s non-Federal forestlands to continue to provide 

public benefits by addressing threats to forest sustainability, such as wildfires and the spread of insects and disease. 

Elimination of the program is proposed because the Forest Service will focus on the maintenance of existing 

National Forest System lands in FY 2019. 

Forest Health Management-Federal Lands 

(2) A decrease of $3,628,000 and 21 staff years ($55,123,000 and 285 staff years in 2018). 

Base funds will continue to fund efforts to detect, prevent, suppress, monitor, and evaluate forest insects and 

diseases to protect forest lands managed by the Forest Service, other Federal agencies, and Tribes. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Insects and diseases cause billions of dollars in damage to trees and other forest resources each year, 

resulting in reduced timber volume, loss of recreation opportunities, increased safety hazards in forested 

lands, and increased chance of uncharacteristically severe wildland fire. 

 The Forest Service is the primary service provider to all Federal lands for forest health-related services. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of ensuring the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands. Program funding will continue to assist in appropriate and timely responses to protect the Nation’s 

Federal forests from insects and diseases. 

Funds will be used to support 264 staff years and prioritized treatment of acres to reduce pest outbreaks, safety 

hazards, and fire risk. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $3,628,000 to reduce the potential for new outbreaks. 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Landscape Scale Restoration $14,000 - $14,000 2 $13,905 2 -$13,905 (1) -2 - - 

Forest Health Management - Federal 

Lands 58,922 296 55,500 285 55,123 285 -3,628 (2) -21 $51,495 264 

Forest Health Management - 

Cooperative Lands 40,678 86 39,000 90 38,735 90 -4,359 (3) -13 34,376 77 

Working Forest Lands 23,036 56 20,036 54 19,900 54 -425 (4) -5 19,475 49 

Forest Legacy Program 62,347 27 62,347 28 61,924 28 -61,924 (5) -28 - - 

Community Forest and Open Space 

Conservation 2,000 - 2,000 - 1,986 - -1,986 (6) - - - 

Urban and Community Forestry 28,040 49 28,040 53 27,850 53 -27,850 (7) -53 - - 

International Forestry 8,000 40 8,000 51 7,946 51 -7,946 (8) -51 - - 

National Fire Capacity - - - - 77,470 57 -11,540 (9) -13 65,930 44 

Rural Fire Capacity - - - - 14,898 - -3,878 (10) - 11,020 - 

State and Private Forestry Total 237,023 554 228,923 563 319,737 620 -137,441 -186 182,296 434

Program

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
45 

Forest Health Management-Federal Lands funding will be prioritized to treat areas to reduce the potential 

for new outbreaks and address public safety and forest health needs arising from acres of dead and dying 

trees. The agency will continue to focus on the most pressing needs of forest restoration and reducing 

communities’ risk to catastrophic fire. At a reduced funding level, the number of Federal acres treated for 

invasive and native insects and diseases will decline. 

Funding for Selected Insects, Diseases and Invasive Plants by Fiscal Year 

(Dollars in thousands) 

RD - (Research Appropriation)

SPF – (State and Private Forestry, Forest Health 

Appropriation)

FY 2017

 Actual

FY 2018

Annualized 

CR

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Asian Longhorned Beetle (Total) $134 $113 $91 

 SPF 20 0 0 

 RD 114 113 91 

Douglas-fir Tussock Moth (Total) 95 95 79 

 SPF 24 24 22 

 RD 71 71 57 

Emerald Ash Borer (Total) 389 388 337 

 SPF 240 240 218 

 RD 149 148 119 

Gold Spotted Oak Borer, Thousand Canker Disease, Laurel Wilt 

(Total) 1,422 1,416 1,198 

 SPF 560 560 509 

 RD 862 856 689 

Gypsy Moth (Total) 8,975 8,967 8,052 

 SPF 8,021 8,021 7,289 

 RD 954 946 763 

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Total) 2,615 2,609 2,272 

 SPF 1,663 1,663 1,511 

 RD 952 946 761 

Invasive Plants (Total) 2,734 2,726 2,361 

 SPF 1,600 1,600 1,454 

 RD 1,134 1,126 907 

Oak Wilt (Total) 512 511 457 

 SPF 438 438 398 

 RD 74 73 59 

Port Orford Cedar Root Disease - S&PF (Total) 25 25 23 

 SPF 25 25 23 

 RD 0 0 0 

Sirex Woodwasp (Total) 404 402 333 

 SPF 90 90 82 

 RD 314 312 251 

Southern Pine Beetle (Total) 3,431 3,428 3,068 

 SPF 2,978 2,978 2,706

 RD 453 450 362 
46 

RD - (Research Appropriation)

SPF – (State and Private Forestry, Forest Health 

Appropriation)

FY 2017

 Actual

FY 2018

Annualized 

CR

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Subterranean Termites - R&D (Total) 1,553 1,336 1,242 

 SPF N/A N/A N/A 

 RD 1,553 1,336 1,242

Sudden Oak Death (Total) 1,603 1,601 1,425

 SPF 1,312 1,312 1,192

 RD 291 289 233 

Western Bark Beetles (Total) 4,465 4,461 3,996

 SPF 3,900 3,900 3,544

 RD 565 561 452 

Whitebark Pine Pests - (Total) 110 110 100

 SPF 110 110 100

 RD 0 0 0 

White Pine Blister Rust (Total) 751 749 644

 SPF 395 395 359

 RD 356 354 285 

Total Funding 29,218 28,937 25,678 

 SPF 21,376 21,356 19,407 

 RD 7,842 7,581 6,271

Forest Health Management-Cooperative Lands 

(3) A decrease of $4,359,000 and 13 staff years ($38,735,000 and 90 staff years in 2018). 

The program provides technical and financial assistance to States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories to 

monitor, assess, and mitigate forest health threats on non-Federal lands. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Insects and diseases cause billions of dollars in damage to trees and other forest resources each year, 

resulting in reduced timber volume, loss of recreation opportunities, increased safety hazards in forested 

lands, and increased chance of uncharacteristically severe wildland fire. 

 Pest management methods are more effective when considering an entire landscape and treating both 

public and private lands in an ecologically responsible and economically efficient manner. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of ensuring the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands. Program funding will continue to provide essential support to non-Federal partners to protect the 

Nation’s forested lands from insects and diseases. 

Funds will be used to support 77 staff years and prioritized treatment of acres to reduce pest outbreaks, safety 

hazards, and fire risk. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $4,359,000 for Early Detection and Rapid Response efforts. 

Forest Health Management-Cooperative Lands funding will provide financial and technical assistance to 

partners to address needs identified in State Forest Action Plans, pest detection surveys, and areas at risk 

for infestations from native and non-native insects and diseases on public, State, Tribal, and private lands. 

At a reduced funding level, the program will fund fewer efforts promoting the use of Early Detection and 
47 

Rapid Response to detect invasive insects and diseases – efforts which reduce future costs to address pest 

outbreaks. Investments in this program are often matched dollar-for-dollar by our partners. 

Working Forest Lands (previously Forest Stewardship Program) 

(4) A decrease of $425,000 and 5 staff years ($19,900,000 and 54 staff years in 2018). 

This is the primary Forest Service program focused on private forestland management and conservation, assisting 

private landowners to address resource management concerns. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Actively-managed State and private forests provide timber, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, 

recreational opportunities, and many other benefits for landowners and communities. 

 Better management of private lands supports the maintenance of nearby national forests and grasslands. 

 The program creates jobs in rural communities by sustaining local forest product markets and increasing 

demand for qualified private forestry consultants, loggers, and State agency field foresters. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of ensuring the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands. Two-thirds of the Nation’s forests are privately owned. Program funding will assist landowners in 

addressing resource management concerns through a national network of forestry professionals. The agency will 

offer a variety of educational and technical assistance programs and activities, including comprehensive, multiresource Forest Stewardship Plans. 

Funds will be used to support 49 staff years and coordinated technical assistance to address diverse landowner 

needs. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $425,000 will impact the agency’s capacity to support strategic partners who enhance the 

overall reach of the program with rural landowners. 

Forest Legacy Program 

(5) A decrease of $61,924,000 and 28 staff years ($61,924,000 and 28 staff years in 2018). 

The Forest Legacy Program allows for the protection of critical forest landscapes threatened by land conversion 

through conservation easements and fee-simple purchases with partners. Since its authorization in 1990, the Forest 

Legacy Program has funded the protection of 2.625 million acres nationwide. This program does not add to the 

Federal estate, but rather assists stakeholders to conserve local working forests. 

Elimination of the program is proposed because the Forest Service will focus on the maintenance of existing 

National Forest System lands in FY 2019. 

Community and Open Space Program 

(6) A decrease of $1,986,000 ($1,986,000 and 0 staff years in 2018). 

Through the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation (CFP) program, the Forest Service provides financial 

assistance grants to local governments, Tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations to establish community forests. 

CFP creates community forests through land acquisition and allows for land protection for qualified entities that 

have demonstrated a sustained commitment to community forestry. Funding in support of CFP projects is distributed 

through competitively awarded Federal grants. 

Elimination of the program is proposed because the Forest Service will focus on the maintenance of existing 

National Forest System lands in FY 2019. 
48 

Urban and Community Forestry 

(7) A decrease of $27,850,000 and 53 staff years ($27,850,000 and 53 staff years in 2018). 

The Urban and Community Forestry program leverages State and other partner resources to ensure communities 

across the Nation have the tools and tested knowledge necessary to sustainably manage their forests and the 

economic, environmental, and health benefits they provide. 

Elimination of the program is proposed because the Forest Service will focus on the maintenance of existing 

National Forest System lands in FY 2019. 

International Forestry Program 

(8) A decrease of $7,946,000 and 51 staff years ($7,946,000 and 51 staff years in 2018). 

The International Forestry program promotes sustainable forest management globally, and brings important 

technologies and innovations back to the United States. The program represents the interest of the entire U.S. 

forestry community and its stakeholders through international engagement. Effective forest management at the 

global level is necessary to protect American trade interests, such as the ability of domestic timber producers to 

compete on a level playing field, and to ensure the sustainability of critical domestic and global natural resources. 

The program supports the highest priorities of International Forestry in combatting illegal logging, supporting 

American Forestry in International Trade, protecting U.S. forests from invasive species, and conserving habitat for 

U.S. migratory species. 

Elimination of the program is proposed because the Forest Service will focus on the maintenance of existing 

National Forest System lands in FY 2019. 

National Fire Capacity (previously State Fire Assistance) 

(9) A decrease of $11,540,000 and 13 staff years ($77,470,000 and 57 staff years in 2018). 

The National Fire Capacity program builds capacity through partnership agreements with State Foresters for the 

prevention, mitigation, control, and suppression of wildfires on non-Federal lands. Collaboration between 

government and non-government entities is important to an effective, all-lands approach to wildland fire 

management. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 More than 46 million homes in the United States, representing 40 percent of the Nation’s housing units, are 

located in fire-prone wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. 

 The first responders on almost 75 percent of wildfires are local fire departments or State agencies. 

 The Forest Service’s strong relationship with State forestry agencies, as well as the agency’s capacity and 

expertise in wildland fire management, makes us the leader in program delivery. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Objectives to Mitigate Wildfire Risk and Ensure Lands and Watersheds are 

Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive. The National Fire Capacity program builds capacity with State Foresters for 

the prevention, mitigation, control, and suppression of wildfires on non-Federal lands. 

Funds will be used to support 44 staff years and collaboration on risk assessments and community fire management 

planning. Program funds will also support fuels treatments in the WUI, firefighter training, purchase and 

maintenance of equipment, and education and prevention programs. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $11,540,000 for the support of National Fire Capacity. 
49 

National Fire Capacity program funding is used to support risk assessments and fire management planning 

projects in thousands of communities nationwide. Hazardous fuels treatments in the WUI, firefighter 

training, and prevention and education programs are also provided by this program. Additionally, program 

funds are invested in the purchase, maintenance, and rehabilitation of needed firefighting equipment for 

State agencies. A reduction in funding would diminish our financial support to communities in providing 

wildfire assistance in the form of equipment, engines, training, and other resources. 

Rural Fire Capacity (previously Volunteer Fire Assistance) 

(10)A decrease of $3,878,000 ($14,898,000 and 0 staff years in 2018). 

The program provides technical and financial assistance to qualifying local volunteer fire departments that protect 

communities with populations of 10,000 or fewer. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 More than 46 million homes in the United States, representing 40 percent of the Nation’s housing units, are 

located in fire-prone wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. 

 The first responders on almost 75 percent of wildfires are local fire departments or State agencies. 

 Without the cooperation of rural fire departments, the agency would be unable to provide the level of fire 

response needed to successfully suppress fires near small rural communities during initial attack. 

This request supports USDA’s goal for ensuring the productive and sustainable use of the National Forest System 

lands, and supports USDA’s Strategic Objective to Mitigate Wildfire Risk. The Rural Fire Capacity program, 

delivered through the State Foresters, supports local fire preparedness and suppression efforts to protect State and 

private forestlands threatened by wildfire. 

Funds will be used to provide grants for equipment, training, and technical assistance in organizing or expanding 

rural fire departments where little of no fire protection is available. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $3,878,000 for the support of Rural Fire Capacity. 

The Forest Service assisted over 9,000 rural fire departments nationwide in FY 2017 which resulted in the 

training of thousands of firefighters and the purchase, rehabilitation, and maintenance of needed equipment. 

At a reduced funding level, the agency will have diminished ability to provide financial and technical 

resources to rural fire departments for them to obtain the equipment and training necessary to ensure safe 

and effective wildfire response. The agency will target program investments to State-identified areas of 

highest risk and greatest need. 

 
50 

Classification by Objects 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Personnel Compensation:

11.0 Total personnel compensation..................................... $43,899 $47,696 $49,129 $34,390

12.0 Personnel benefits.......................................................... 14,944 16,249 16,724 11,707

13.0 Benefits for former personnel........................................ 248 78 278 194

Total, personnel comp. and benefits......................... 59,091 64,023 66,131 46,291

Other Objects:

21.0 Travel and transportation of persons.......................... 3,736 3,658 4,488 2,532

22.0 Transportation of things................................................ 0 512 628 354

23.1 Rent payments to GSA................................................... 1,868 2,081 2,553 1,440

23.2 Rental payments to others............................................. 934 1,107 1,358 766

23.3 Communications, utilities, and misc. charges............. 1,868 1,475 1,810 1,021

24.0 Printing and reproduction.............................................. 0 448 550 310

25.1 Advisory and assistance services............................... 0 12 15 8

25.2 Other Services................................................................. 16,812 15,207 18,656 10,527

25.3 Purchases of goods and services................................. 11,208 6,621 8,123 4,582

25.4 Operation and maintenance of facilities...................... 0 44 54 30

25.5 Research and development contracts.......................... 0 29 36 20

25.6 Medical care..................................................................... 0 3 4 2

25.7 Operation and maintenance of equipment.................. 0 223 274 154

26.0 Supplies and materials.................................................... 1,868 1,798 2,206 1,244

31.0 Equipment........................................................................ 1,868 1,121 1,375 776

32.0 Land and Structures....................................................... 0 6 7 4

41.0 Grants................................................................................ 141,973 162,141 198,929 112,214

42.0 Insurance Claims and Indemnities................................ 0 31 38 21

Total , Other Objects................................................... 182,135 196,517 241,104 136,005

99.9 Total, new obligations.............................................. 241,226 260,540 307,235 182,296

$12 $11 $10 $10

Position Data:

Average Salary (dollars), ES positions........................ $162,006 $171,059 $174,309 $174,309

Average Salary (dollars), GS positions........................ $84,855 $84,602 $86,209 $86,209

Average Grade, GS positions........................................ 10.9 10.9 11.0 11.0

DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3)...............
51 

Status of Programs 

The Forest Service, State forestry organizations, American foresters, and stakeholders have a long history of 

cooperation and coordination, working across boundaries to manage the complexities of protecting and improving 

the Nation’s forests – an “all lands” approach that enhances forest health everywhere. 

Landscape Scale Restoration 

Current Activities: 

The Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) program funds competitive cross-boundary projects in high-priority areas 

by leveraging State capacity with strategic Federal investments. The program helps ensure the Nation’s non-Federal 

forestlands continue to provide public benefits by enabling States to develop and pursue innovative landscape-scale 

projects that focus on priorities identified in State Forest Action Plans and deliver on-the-ground results. 

By addressing threats to forest sustainability, such as damaging wildfires or the spread of insects and disease, these 

projects also benefit adjacent National Forest System lands, creating healthier, more resilient landscapes overall. 

Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 A new publicly-accessible search tool of LSR projects is available online, allowing the public to search and 

download project reports and identify where Federal investments are being made. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Shortleaf pine seed orchard establishment (Georgia): Shortleaf pine forests are important sources of high 

quality forest products and provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife species. A shortage of quality seed 

currently exists. Given the current and future interest in shortleaf pine reestablishment, a genetically isolated 

shortleaf pine seed orchard is critical. Project partners are working to establish a new shortleaf pine seed 

orchard with the capability of providing millions of seedlings across the region for reforestation projects on 

private and public lands. A quality site for the orchard has been acquired and the orchard was established in the 

fall of 2017. Growing grafts and planting will continue at the orchard through 2018. 

Advancing an integrated forest management approach in rural forest communities (Minnesota): Keeping forest lands 

in the St. Croix Basin as working forests is critical to maintaining water quality in the basin headwaters and 

preventing water quality from declining further in the lower reaches. The majority of the private forests in the Upper 

St. Croix Basin are not actively managed and are vulnerable to land conversion. In 2017, the landscape planning 

process for this project began with key members of the Snake River Landscape Stewardship Plan development 

steering and review committees. The project includes the development of a Landscape Stewardship Plan for the 

Snake River watershed, a comprehensive array of planning services to landowners, and direct State and Federal 

cost-share funding to implement conservation practices within priority areas. 

Model Eastside Private Forestland Collaborative (Oregon): Located in Oregon’s Lower Middle Fork John Day River 

Basin, this project engages 10 family forest owners (totaling 10,000 acres of forest and rangeland) in an all-lands 

approach to addressing landscape-level resource concerns. Now formalized as a nonprofit known as the Ritter Land 

Management Team (RLMT), the collaborative completed a sawmill feasibility study in 2017. The study 

recommended a sawmill operation and juniper harvesting operation which utilizes a 20-year supply of marketable 

juniper in the area. Soon after the study was completed, RLMT acquired a portable sawmill to address the spread of 

western juniper, which is considered a threat to forest and rangeland health in eastern Oregon, and to provide jobs. 

Forest Health Management on Federal Lands 

Current Activities: 

Damage to forests from insects and diseases is costly, especially when uncontained or improperly managed. 

Reduced timber volume, loss of recreation opportunities, watershed and water supply impacts, increased safety 

hazards on forested lands, and increased chance of abnormally severe wildland fire can all be mitigated through 

efficient, effective forest health management. 
52 

The Forest Health Management on Federal Lands program (FHM-Federal Lands) helps the National Forest System 

and other Federal lands in active management to suppress forest insects and diseases. FHM-Federal Lands work 

includes technical assistance and suppression and eradication efforts, as well as long-term management strategies to 

slow the spread of certain forest insects and diseases. FHM-Federal Lands funds Federal forest health monitoring 

activities which gather data and review forest health conditions across Federal forested lands in the United States. 

The program produces annual reports called “Forest Health Monitoring: Status, Trends and Analysis.” Specific areas 

being addressed currently include: 

 On national forests in Mississippi, FHM-Federal Lands is working closely with regional and national staffs 

to accelerate treatments and reduce the impact of southern pine beetle onto adjacent – including private – 

lands. In FY 2017, aggressive and strategic treatment of a southern pine beetle infestation successfully 

contained economic and ecological disruption to approximately 10,000 acres. With 100,000 acres of high 

risk pine stands on these forests, potential impacts could reach 50,000 acres. FHM-Federal Lands continues 

to support the proactive effort to address this emergent challenge. 

 Sudden oak death, for which there is no known cure, has ravaged western oak species. The latest lineage of 

this disease, now found in tanoaks, is known to kill or damage several conifer tree species in Europe, 

making its presence in Oregon forests a new risk. FHM-Federal Lands invests in stream surveys to monitor 

the spread of sudden oak death and continues to fund strategies to slow its spread and reduce its impact. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

New aviation and ground survey tool: The Forest Service has developed a new tablet-based reporting technology 

that went operational in FY 2017 called Digital Mobile Sketch Mapping (DMSM) which allows surveyors to record 

forest disturbances and their causes. This methodology and tool captures all forest health issues that are detectable 

by aerial survey and can also be used in ground surveying. The upgrade covers almost 500 million acres of all 

forests across the Nation in 49 States. The system is roughly 90 percent less costly, and completes survey reports 

more timely than the legacy system being phased out, since data is immediately uploaded and is reported more 

accurately due to standards enforcement features of DMSM. The increase in survey capacity and the ability to turn 

the data into treatment action on the ground is invaluable to maintaining forested lands and focusing treatment 

activity to highest risk areas. A good example of this is in Hawaii, which is one of the first States to adopt DMSM 

technology by using it to track the spread of rapid ōhi’a death, helping them contain a disease that spreads quickly. 

Responsible pesticide use: FHM-Federal Lands has helped establish protocols that will streamline and improve 

consistency in pesticide compliance requirements. The FY 2017 agreement between the Forest Service and 

Bonneville Power will serve as a model for subsequent agreements with utilities, enhancing safeguards for human 

health and ecological protection, and ensuring consistency of tenant integrated pest management with national forest 

land use plans. 

Forest Health Management on Cooperative Lands 

Current Activities: 

Pest management methods are more effective in an all-lands approach. Threats do not stop at the wildland-urban 

interface, the State line, or property lines. Forest Health Management Cooperative Lands (FHM-Cooperative Lands) 

works with States, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and Freely Associated States to provide technical and 

financial assistance to monitor, assess, and mitigate forest health threats on non-Federal lands. 

FHM-Cooperative Lands considers an entire landscape and treats both public and private lands in an ecologically 

responsible and economically efficient manner. Investments in this program are typically matched dollar for dollar 

by our partners. 

FHM-Cooperative Lands works in partnership with State land management agencies to conduct aerial detection 

surveys on forested lands, recording approximately 5,000 flight hours and surveying about 500 million acres in FY 

2017. Aerial survey work includes sketch mapping – observation and mapping of forest health conditions on the 

ground – and other forms of remote sensing, such as satellite imagery and aerial photography. The equipment and 

technical expertise required to conduct these surveys provide job opportunities and economic benefits to rural 
53 

communities. The program produces an annual conditions reports titled “Forest Health Highlights”. Specific areas 

being addressed currently include: 

 In the battle to contain winter moth in New England, FHM-Cooperative Lands funding supports work to 

collect, raise, and release a biological control agent for this non-native tree defoliator. The agent, Cyzensis 

albicans, is now successfully established and has started spreading through the infested area. It is expected 

to begin reducing defoliation of New England’s hardwood trees in the very near future, and early success 

was seen on a site in Massachusetts, with a 90 percent decline in winter moth density. 

 FHM-Cooperative Lands is leading efforts to support seed collections of at-risk tree species for genetic 

conservation and has supported seed collections of more than 20 tree species to date. FHM-Cooperative 

Lands partners with the American Public Gardens Association to conserve at-risk tree species where seeds 

cannot be stored long-term. The project has successfully supported a network of botanical gardens and 

arboreta to build collections of eight at-risk tree species for propagation and future out-plantings. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Investments in cutting edge technology that mitigate wood industry losses: FHM-Cooperative Lands, entrepreneurs, 

and Federal and State entities have partnered in the testing and development of a new mobile vacuum/steam 

treatment that cleans deadly fungi on large infested logs. This innovative treatment was first used on large red oak 

logs infested with oak wilt (a fungus found in several central U.S. States, Texas, New York, and in the Mid-Atlantic 

region), as well as high-value black walnut logs with thousand cankers disease (found across the country). In FY 

2017 this treatment was used to address rapid ōhi’a death fungus on the quarantined Hawaiian ōhi’a tree. The new 

treatment can save the integrity and grade of the wood product, thus serving to mitigate financial impacts to the 

wood industry across numerous States, as well as preserving the ōhi’a, a culturally valued Hawaiian tree and wood 

product. 

Supporting evidence-based decision-making through applied science: FHM-Cooperative Lands administers the 

Forest Service Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, matching grants to cooperators to support studies of priority 

forestry pesticides. Studies include the examination of potential pesticide effects to threatened and endangered 

species and the efficacy of pesticide use to control non-native invasive species. In FY 2017 Texas A&M University 

was selected to receive a grant for a project on the southern pine beetle to test the effectiveness of injecting an 

insecticide into non infested loblolly pine trees on the Oakmulgee Ranger District in Alabama. The goal of the 

project is to create a lethal trapping mechanism which can serve to reduce the beetle population and slow its spread 

to manageable levels. 

Working Forest Lands (Previously Forest Stewardship Program) 

Current Activities: 

Actively-managed State and private forests provide timber, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, recreational 

opportunities, and many other benefits for landowners, communities, and nearby national forests and grasslands at a 

landscape scale. More than half the forest land in the United States (441 million acres) is owned and managed by 

some 11 million private forest owners. The Working Forest Lands program focuses on active management and 

conservation, providing non-industrial private forest landowners with technical assistance and tools, such as forest 

management plan development, to help them enhance and sustain the productivity, health, and resilience of their 

land and forest resources. Additional attention is given to landowners in landscape areas identified by State Forest 

Action Plans and those new to, or in the early stages of, managing their land. The program creates jobs in rural 

communities by sustaining local forest product markets and increasing demand for qualified private forestry 

consultants, loggers, and State agency field foresters. 

Assistance offered through the Working Forest Lands program qualifies landowners to access multiple services and 

incentives, such as USDA conservation programs, forest certification programs, forest product and ecosystem 

service markets, and tax incentives. The Forest Service maintains longstanding partnerships with the USDA Natural 

Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the American Forest Foundation, the National Association of Conservation 

Districts, National Association of State Foresters, university extension, and other partners to coordinate and 

streamline technical assistance and address diverse landowner needs. Specific areas being addressed currently 

include: 
54 

 Innovative outreach and education tools developed to engage and encourage private forest landowners to 

actively and sustainably manage their forests. 

 Conservation and wood market models that can be replicated to ensure private forests remain working 

forests for future generations. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Appalachian Woodland Alliance: The forests of the southeastern United States are biologically diverse and 

generate billions of dollars of forest products each year. The Forest Service, the Rainforest Alliance, and 

representatives from the forest products industry are working together to conserve and enhance the local 

economies of 15 Appalachian communities by promoting sustainable forest management practices. In FY 

2017, Alliance members used marketing data to target over 200 landowners who manage approximately 7,000 

acres of woodlands and engaged them in practices to better manage their forests and access markets for their 

products. 

Rural Lands Project: Factors such as uneven timber markets and inheritors being unprepared to maintain land 

ownership lead to landowner uncertainty in maintaining their stewardship legacy for future generations. The 

Forest Service, in collaboration with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation, NRCS, and leading family forest 

non-profit organizations, examined new ownership models for the future that conserve the working family 

farms, forests, and ranches that are the backbone of rural economies. In FY 2017, project members interviewed 

150 private landowners who each own an average of 13,000 acres to assess their interest in innovative 

ownership models. Initial project results indicate that family forest owners are interested in donating their land 

to charities through working conservation easements and that there is a need for portable mid-size mills that 

support family forest owners and their rural communities. 

Forest Legacy Program 

Current Activities: 

Two-thirds of the Nation’s forests are privately owned. Conservation across landscapes and ownerships is essential 

to addressing large-scale conservation issues, including watershed protection, reduced wildfire risk, and protection 

of at-risk species. Intact private forests provide clean drinking water, access for recreation opportunities, and 

revenue from ranching, hunting leases, forest products, and outdoor tourism. 

The Forest Legacy Program (FLP) protects critical forest landscapes threatened by land conversion through 

conservation easements and fee-simple purchases in partnership with State agencies and private landowners. To 

select projects for funding, the FLP uses a competitive process. Through the end of FY 2017, the FLP has conserved 

2.8 million acres, including 67,000 acres in that fiscal year. The conserved acres include more than 176,000 acres of 

water bodies and 3,300 miles of streams. The program does not add to the Federal estate, but rather assists 

landowners to conserve and actively manage private working forests. Historically, the FLP leverages more than one 

dollar for every Federal dollar spent. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Revised, easily navigable program guidelines that provide comprehensive program information and better 

serve States and partners during program implementation. 

 An interactive, publically-accessible map viewer that allows conservation professionals and partners to 

understand the impacts of their investments spatially and plan for working lands conservation at a 

landscape scale. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Altamaha River-Sansavilla Forest (Georgia): In FY 2017 the Forest Service, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and two private foundations partnered to invest $32 

million to permanently conserve 19,500 acres of longleaf and loblolly pine-dominated working forestland. The 

Altamaha River-Sansavilla Forest contains critical habitat for the gopher tortoise, sustains local jobs, contributes to 

the forest product and recreation economies, and provides a buffer to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Townsend Bombing 

Range. Located in a region with high forest industry activity, Sansavilla’s forests annually support 138 timberrelated jobs and contribute $13.2 million in timber sales and shipments. 
55 

Clagstone Meadows (Idaho): The Clagstone Meadows Forest Legacy project was completed in FY 2017, 

permanently conserving 14,432 acres of highly productive forestland that sustains the forest products industry and 

local jobs and permanently opening 8,847 acres of high-value recreation opportunities to the public. After the sale of 

a conservation easement held by the State of Idaho, Stimson Lumber Company continues to own and sustainably 

manage the forest for multiple benefits. Forests on the property produce approximately 4 million board feet of 

merchantable timber each year and support roughly 52 full-time workers in the wood products industry. The project 

secured permanent public access for hunting, hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities. 

Central Sands Pines (Wisconsin): The Central Sands Pines project began in FY 2013 and was completed in FY 

2017, protecting over 7,500 acres of working forestland in central Wisconsin via a conservation easement held by 

the State. The project ensures continued forest production, benefiting the local, State, and regional economies and 

contributing to Wisconsin’s standing as one of the States with the most forestry jobs in the country. This project 

maintains critical habitat for the federally endangered Kirtland's warbler and Karner blue butterfly; the property 

boasts the largest U.S. population of the butterfly. The easement guarantees public access to over 7,500 acres in an 

area that is a popular tourist destination for hunting, hiking, and snowmobiling. 

Community Forest and Open Space Conservation 

Current Activities: 

The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation program (CFP) provides financial assistance grants to 

local governments, Tribes, and qualified nonprofit organizations to acquire and establish working community 

forests that provide public benefits. Projects are selected through a competitive process that evaluates 

community benefits, contribution to landscape conservation initiatives, and likelihood of land conversion. In 

FY 2017, seven new grants were awarded and the program protected six tracts of land totaling 2,044 acres. 

Many community forests provide the same benefits as the National Forest System, including clean drinking 

water, wildlife habitat, public access and recreation opportunities, economic benefits from timber and nontimber products, and educational opportunities to local communities. Specific areas being addressed currently 

include: 

 A Community Forest Road Map, a new online resource for potential program applicants or grant recipients 

that provides complete and current information on the program and application process, is in the 

development phase. 

 A database to manage program applications and track program accomplishments is also in the development 

phase. This will reduce the application burden on applicants, State Foresters, Tribal Governments, and the 

Forest Service. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Milan Community Forest (New Hampshire): In a two-phase project completed in FY 2017, the Forest Service 

acquired a total of 842 acres to contribute to the 1,342-acre Milan Community Forest, creating a block of 

permanently conserved forestland in the Great North Woods region of New Hampshire. Residents in this small 

rural town maintain strong ties to the land through their work in the logging, farming, and outdoor recreation 

industries. Owned and managed by the municipality, the Milan Community Forest will allow for continued 

economic and social benefits through timber income, outdoor education for children at the Milan Village 

School, and public access for hunting and fishing. Future management, in accordance with the Community 

Forest Plan, will include an active timber harvest program, outdoor recreation and education, and wildlife 

habitat protection. 

East Nassau Community Forest (New York): The Rensselaer Plateau, a region known for its unique geological 

and ecological features that include distinctive wetland communities, rich wildlife habitat, and abundant water 

resources, is at continued risk from development. In FY 2017, the East Nassau Community Forest project 

secured 340 acres of working community forest land that conserves a mosaic of high quality natural 

communities and the public values they provide such as clean water, storm water management and flood 

resilience, and wildlife habitat. The Community Forest will be a part of a broader initiative to increase 

recreational tourism on the Rensselaer Plateau, bringing economic development opportunities to the local 

community. 
56 

Urban and Community Forestry 

Current Activities: 

The Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) program is delivered in cooperation with State forestry agencies 

and other national and local partners to provide funding and technical assistance for communities of all sizes to 

conserve, protect, and enhance urban forests. Thirty-five percent of communities served in FY 2017 were 

small, rural communities. Strategic collaboration with Federal agency partners magnifies the impact of the 

UCF program, leveraging resources and expertise across program boundaries to promote healthy, vibrant 

communities. 

The UCF program supports critical regional planning and strategic collaboration to sustain community tree 

canopy benefits across jurisdictional boundaries. Urban and community forests can serve as a gateway for 

invasive pests and disease; maintaining the health of these forests protects the Nation’s forests as a whole, 

including the national forests. The Forest Service works with State forestry agencies and other partners to 

promote science-based management of urban and community forest resources in all 50 States, the District of 

Columbia, U.S. Territories, and affiliated Pacific Island Nations. Each year, State and local UCF partners 

develop programs and partnerships to expand the reach of Federal dollars. Specific focus areas currently 

include: 

 Creating American jobs. Urban forestry and green professions – arboriculture, landscape design and 

maintenance, horticulture, and others – are growth industries with an annual economic impact of $147.8 

billion and the potential to provide tens of thousands of new American jobs. The UCF program is 

supporting workforce development for all levels through certification programs, youth summer camps, 

training for the tree care industry, apprenticeship opportunities, and more. 

 Supporting science-based decision-making. In 2017, the UCF program, in partnership with American 

Forests and the National Association of Regional Councils, launched the Vibrant Cities Lab web platform 

to help policymakers, municipal executives, and urban forestry practitioners make science-based decisions 

about their trees that make their community healthier and more livable. This platform provides curated 

summaries of the best available science in urban forestry and a toolkit and self-assessment that guides users 

as they work to improve urban forest plans and practices. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Supporting community recovery from natural disaster: In 2016 more than 87 million people in the United 

States were impacted by 10 hurricanes, 24 severe storms, 11 winter storms, and 10 straight-line wind events. 

That same year, wildfires burned nearly 5.5 million acres, threatening human life and property near 

communities. The Urban Forest Strike Teams, funded and trained through the UCF Program, help 

communities rebuild after disaster. In 2017 the Southern Urban Forest Strike Teams were mobilized to address 

the impacts of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida. Using methodology developed by the 

Forest Service that uses FEMA criteria for recording reimbursable tree damage and GPS to accurately map the 

location of each damaged tree. Within three weeks of hurricane landfall, these teams identified 2,990 stormdamaged trees with an imminent or probable likelihood of failure and risk of harm to people or property on 

city lands. This assistance allowed local contractors to efficiently mitigate this threat and aided the 

communities in documenting tree damage for FEMA reimbursement. 

Supporting regional wood product economies: Building vibrant urban wood economies across the Nation can 

create jobs and businesses by supporting small producers and diversifying wood streams while keeping 

valuable wood out of landfills. The UCF program, in partnership with Forest Service Research & Development 

(R&D), is using its vast national partnership network to attract new and innovative partners to supporting 

regional wood economies. In FY 2017, UCF and R&D staff and partners collaborated to develop social impact 

investing that will attract private capital to urban wood utilization. Also in FY 2017, the agency entered into a 

partnership with a U.S. furniture company that will source wood from urban areas (initially piloting in 

Baltimore) and then construct products with small producers in rural communities. The Forest Service will 

work with partners to track and quantify on-the-ground impacts. 
57 

International Programs 

Current Activities: 

 Workshop participation offering technical advice to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

staff on timber identification techniques for the prevention of illegal timber imports to the U.S. 

 Supporting efforts towards de-listing the Kirtland’s Warbler from the endangered species list through 

promoting habitat conservation in winter nesting grounds in the Bahamas, ultimately increasing the 

population of this species. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Reducing illegal logging and forest crime in Eastern Europe: International Programs provided support for several 

forest crime reduction efforts in Eastern Europe, including training for prosecutors, investigators, border control 

agents, foresters, and the U.S. Department of State International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary. 

One training, implemented with the Regional Environment Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focused on the U.S. 

Lacey Act, timber tracking and chain of custody methods for wood and wood products, and European Timber 

Regulations. Training included an interactive case study with participants from Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 

Montenegro, Serbia, and Moldova to better understand the implications of international regulations and standards on 

individual countries, and ways to apply regulations and methods within their own country to promote better 

international cooperation in the wood industry. Following the training, Ukraine successfully launched 27 criminal 

procedures for the sale and export of illegally harvested timber. 

Conserving Bicknell’s thrush: The Bicknell’s thrush is a migratory bird that breeds in the northeastern U.S., 

including on the Green Mountain and White Mountain National Forests, and winters in the Dominican Republic and 

Haiti. The species is currently threatened, and at risk to become listed as endangered under the Endangered Species 

Act. Such a designation would limit activity on millions of acres of Forest Service and other Federal, State, and 

private lands to conserve the Bicknell’s thrush habitat. To prevent such a listing, Forest Service International 

Programs is applying the methods and strategies developed for the successful Kirtland’s warbler recovery efforts to 

stop the decline in population. Initial efforts include developing a multi-partner, multi-country conservation plan 

focused on protecting key habitats in the Caribbean. By supporting conservation in the winter nesting grounds, 

Forest Service International Programs provide key support to prevent further species decline, reducing the risk of a 

listing under the Endangered Species Act, and keeping American forests open for multiple use. 

National Fire Capacity (Previously State Fire Assistance) 

Current Activities: 

More than 46 million homes in the United States (representing 40 percent of the Nation’s housing units) are 

located in fire-prone wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. The first responders on almost 75 percent of 

wildfires are local fire departments or State agencies. Collaboration between the Forest Service, the 

Department of the Interior, and non-Federal government entities is important to an effective, all-lands 

approach to wildland fire management. 

The FY 2019 President’s Budget requests that the National Fire Capacity program be moved from the 

Wildland Fire Management program to the State and Private Forestry program. Through the National Fire 

Capacity program, the Forest Service supports and assists State Foresters and local communities in building 

capacity for the prevention, mitigation, control, and suppression of wildfires on non-Federal lands. The 

program helps State agencies create more fire-adapted communities by implementing pre-fire prevention and 

mitigation programs described in State Forest Action Plans. The program emphasizes pre-fire planning in the 

WUI and hazardous fuels mitigation near communities at risk of catastrophic wildfire. Training funded by the 

program provides for effective and safer initial response to wildfire. Additionally, the program improves 

capacity to assist other Federal, State, and local agencies in aiding communities affected by fire and non-fire 

emergencies, such as hurricanes and floods. 
58 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (FAC Network): National Fire Capacity program funding 

supports initiatives that have a large impact in making ecosystems and communities more resilient to wildfire 

and helping communities become more fire-adapted. The FAC Network provides ongoing support to 16 

community-based core member organizations in 15 States and 3 statewide networks. Mentoring is provided to 

another two statewide efforts, and the FAC Network engages directly with about 90 outside individuals and 

organizations in 24 States as affiliate members. Between January and June of 2017 the network expanded by 

over 20 percent, reaching more than 720 partners to advance fire adaptation and reduce risk in communities. 

These partnerships leveraged more than $3.4 million in funding from 77 sources to meet local fire adaptation 

goals. During spring 2017, members achieved several milestones for hazard mitigation activities, including: 

 National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day events were held in southwest Colorado, with FireWise of 

Southwest Colorado partners hosting 14 events and logging 1,750 volunteer hours. 

 The Ely, Minnesota neighborhood mitigation program has grown from 25 properties in 2014 to over 254 

properties in 2017. The amount of material removed has increased by two-thirds and volunteer hours have 

more than doubled. 

 Project Wildfire’s spring 2017 FireFree events collected over 31,000 cubic yards of vegetation in four 

counties, a 10 percent increase from 2016. 

 The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities added 317 new individual members and is actively 

coordinating with volunteers in 12 neighborhoods. More than 500 acres of fuel reduction work was 

accomplished in 2017, along with hundreds of defensible space inspections, chipping requests, and 

community contacts. 

 Participation in fuel reduction efforts were at an all-time high for the Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship 

Coalition in spring 2017. The Coalition coordinated and hosted five disposal days at the transfer station and 

about 188 people brought in 95.9 tons (324 car/truck loads) of material. Where previous efforts peaked at 

32 loads in one day, these efforts yielded an average of 65 loads a day (19.1 tons). The Coalition also 

completed 143.2 acres of fuel reduction. 

Capacity building: The Alaska State Forester is responsible for fire suppression on 150 million acres, an area almost 

equivalent to the entire National Forest System. The State used $1.6 million in FY 2017 National Fire Capacity 

funds to increase capacity to respond to wildland fires. One way this was accomplished was to pay for 15 initialattack wildland firefighters. The funds also subsidized additional positions, including air attack operators for initial 

and extended operations; command staff for the Statewide control centers; and technical experts for interagency fire 

plans. Funding supported the training of over 1,700 personnel, and was also used to defray the costs of senior level 

firefighters in the State of Alaska. These same personnel are also dispatched to assist in firefighting efforts across 

the Nation. 

Rural Fire Capacity (Previously Volunteer Fire Assistance) 

Current Activities: 

The first responders on almost 75 percent of wildfires are local fire departments or State agencies. The Rural 

Fire Capacity program provides technical and financial assistance to qualifying local volunteer fire 

departments that protect communities with populations of 10,000 or fewer. There are over 26,000 rural and 

predominantly volunteer fire departments nationwide. Without the cooperation of rural fire departments, the 

Forest Service would be unable to provide the level of fire response needed to contain fires near many 

communities. 

The FY 2019 President’s Budget requests that the Rural Fire Capacity program be moved from the Wildland 

Fire Management program to the State and Private Forestry program. The Rural Fire Capacity program 

enhances stability in rural areas by reducing fire-caused loss of human lives, natural resources, crops, homes, 

facilities, and rural businesses. Recipients match grants dollar-for-dollar to maximize the value of the Federal 

investment. Rural fire departments also play a key role in educating constituents about fire adaptation and the 

need for mitigation, and they help meet expanded fire protection needs within the wildland-urban interface. All 

of these initiatives combine to create more fire-adapted communities. 
59 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Funding for equipment: Rural Fire Capacity funds may be used for the purchase, maintenance or rehabilitation 

of equipment. In FY 2017, Minnesota program funds made it possible for fire departments to convert half-ton 

trucks, obtained from the Department of Defense as excess property, into firefighting vehicles. Program funds 

in Alaska went to 35 local departments through competitive grants. These local units purchased equipment 

including wildland fire turnout gear, radios, and conversion apparatus. 

Primary Authorities 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date (if 

applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

Carlson-Foley Act of 

1968 

This Act authorizes use of noxious 

plant control funds to reimburse States 

for such activity on Federal land. 

 NFS, SPF P.L. 90–583 43 U.S.C. 

2701-2703 

Community Wood 

Energy Program 

The Agricultural Act of 2014 

authorizes $5,000,000 in annual 

appropriations for a Community Wood 

Energy Program through FY 2018. 

Grants of up to $50,000 to State and 

local governments or biomass 

consumer cooperatives to develop 

plans for, or to acquire or upgrade 

community wood energy systems. 

09/30/2018 SPF P.L. 113-79 7 U.S.C. 

8113 

Cooperative 

Forestry Assistance 

Act of 1978 

Authorizes cooperation and assistance 

to non-Federal forest landowners and 

communities in rural forest 

management, urban and community 

forest management, production of 

timber and other forest resources, 

insect and disease control, rural fire 

prevention and control, forest 

management and planning assistance, 

and technology implementation. 

Includes authorization for many State 

and Private Forestry programs, 

including the Forest Stewardship 

Program, the Forest Legacy Program, 

and the Urban and Community 

Forestry Program. 

 SPF P.L. 95-313 16 U.S.C. 

2101-2114 

Food and 

Agriculture Act of 

1977 

Designates the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture as the lead agency of the 

Federal government for agricultural 

research, extension, and teaching. 

Removes restrictions on the use of 

cooperative agreements with 

universities and permits cost 

reimbursable agreements with State 

cooperating institutions without 

competition. 

 ALL P.L. 95-113 7 U.S.C. 

3318-3319d 

Hawaii Tropical 

Forestry Recovery 

Act of 1992 

Authorizes the Secretary of 

Agriculture to treat invasive plants on 

Federal and non-Federal ownerships in 

Hawaii and in tropical forests on 

Federal lands in other States. 

 SPF, 

International 

Forestry 

P.L. 102-

574 

16 U.S.C. 

4501-4505 
60 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date (if 

applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

International 

Forestry 

Cooperation Act of 

1990 

Authorizes support (including 

cooperation, financial, and technical 

assistance, without reimbursement) for 

international forestry and related 

natural resource activities outside the 

United States and its territories. 

Authorizes expansion of the research 

capabilities of the Institute of Tropical 

Forestry in Puerto Rico. 

 International 

Forestry 

P.L. 101-

513; P.L. 

102-574 

16 U.S.C. 

4501-4505 

Rural Revitalization 

Technologies 

Authorizes $5,000,000 in annual 

appropriations for forestry rural 

revitalization technologies to: (A) 

accelerate adoption of technologies 

using biomass and small-diameter 

materials; (B) create community-based 

enterprises through marketing 

activities and demonstration projects; 

and (C) establish small-scale business 

enterprises to make use of biomass and 

small-diameter materials. 

09/30/2018 SPF P.L. 101-

624, P.L. 

110-246; 

P.L. 113-79 

7 U.S.C. 

6601 

 
61 

National Forest System 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes 

(Including transfers of funds) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise provided for, for management, 

protection, improvement, and utilization of the National Forest System, and for hazardous fuels 

management on or adjacent to such lands, [$1,890,393,000]$1,719,954,000, to remain available [until 

expended]through September 30, 2022: [Provided, That of the funds provided, up to $162,000,000 may 

be used to support the Integrated Resource Restoration pilot program for Region 1, Region 3 and Region 

4: Provided further, That of the funds provided, $359,121,000 shall be for forest products: Provided 

further, That of the funds provided, $354,288,000 shall be for hazardous fuels management activities, of 

which not to exceed $15,000,000 may be used to make grants, using any authorities available to the 

Forest Service under the "State and Private Forestry" appropriation, for the purpose of creating incentives 

for increased use of biomass from National Forest System lands:] Provided [further], That of the funds 

provided under this heading, $390,000,000 shall be available for hazardous fuels management activities, 

of which not to exceed $15,000,000 may be used to make grants, using any authorities available to the 

Forest Service under the "State and Private Forestry" appropriation, for the purpose of creating incentives 

for increased use of biomass from National Forest System lands: Provided further, That of the funds 

provided under this heading, up to $15,000,000 may be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into 

procurement contracts or cooperative agreements or to issue grants for hazardous fuels management 

activities, and for training or monitoring associated with such hazardous fuels management activities on 

Federal land, or on non-Federal land if the Secretary determines such activities benefit resources on 

Federal land[.]: Provided further, That funds made available to implement the Community Forest 

Restoration Act, Public Law 106–393, title VI, shall be available for use on non-Federal lands in 

accordance with authorities made available to the Forest Service under the "State and Private Forestry" 

appropriation. 

[In addition, $4,500,000, to remain available until expended, from communication site rental fees 

established by the Forest Service for the cost of administering communication site activities.] 

The first change removes language associated with the Integrated Resource Restoration pilot program, 

and the previously proposed shift of the Hazardous Fuels program. 

The second change adds language to provide funding for the Hazardous Fuels program (moved from 

Wildland Fire Management). 

The third change adds language to accompany the Hazardous Fuels program (moved from Wildland Fire 

Management). 

The fourth change removes previously proposed language for communication site fee retention. 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $1,719,954,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 1,890,393,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. -170,439,000
62 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Appropriations:

Integrated Resource Restoration Pilot......... $155,990 1,450 $153,458 1,492 - 1,492 - -1,492 - - 

Collaborative Forest Landscape 

Restoration......................................... 268 27,702 39,000 260 $30,254 260 -$30,254 -260 - - 

Land Management Planning and Inventory 

Monitoring.......................................... - - 141,983 768 143,789 768 -18,546 -70 $125,243 698 

Land Management Planning.......................... 26,760 224 - - - - - - - - 

Hazardous Fuels a/.......................................... - - - - 387,352 1,884 -66,091 - 321,261 1,884 

Inventory and Monitoring............................. 857 116,357 - - - - - - - - 

Recreation, Heritage, & Wilderness............. 1,862 174,743 176,415 1,851 180,266 1,851 -17,308 -109 162,958 1,742 

Wildlife &Fisheries Habitat Management... 77,879 749 76,833 737 105,665 737 -19,695 -73 85,970 664 

Grazing Management...................................... 39,379 428 38,848 444 40,364 444 -6,750 -63 33,614 381 

Forest Products................................................ 2,485 221,886 202,352 2,284 266,910 2,284 -20,166 -106 246,744 2,178 

Vegetation & Watershed Management....... 98,421 829 99,193 779 144,055 779 -16,190 -51 127,865 728 

Minerals & Geology Management................ 56,845 461 52,583 458 58,002 458 -8,767 -48 49,235 410 

Land Use Authorization and Access b/....... 55,083 526 52,826 503 54,280 503 -4,913 -36 49,367 467 

Law Enforcement Operations......................... 691 108,470 109,427 658 108,739 658 +4,049 +33 112,788 691 

Valles Caldera................................................... -356 - - - - - - - - - 

Nation Forest Systems - Other c/.................. - 419,732 397,103 - 368,716 - +36,193 - 404,909 - 

Total Adjusted Approp..................................... 1,578,891 10,830 1,540,021 10,234 1,888,393 12,118 -168,439 -2,275 1,719,954 9,843

Rescissions, Transfers, and Seq. (Net)........... -69,527 - -26,703 - 2,000 - -2,000 - - -

Total Appropriation........................................ 1,509,364 10,830 1,513,318 10,234 1,890,393 12,118 -170,439 -2,275 1,719,954 9,843

Transfers In:

Fire Transfer Repayment................................ 31,800 - - - - - - - - -

IRR From Capital Improvement & 

Maintenance........................................ 14,743 - 14,743 - - - - - - -

IRR From Wildfire Management.................... 24,000 - 24,000 - - - - - - -

Total................................................................ 70,543 - 38,743 - - - - - - -

Transfers Out:

Fire Transfer..................................................... - - -10,040 - - - - - - -

Valles Caldera to DOI...................................... -1,016 - - - - - - - - -

Total................................................................ -1,016 - -10,040 - - - - - - -

Rescission............................................................ - - -2,000 - -2,000 - +2,000 - - -

Bal. Available, SOY............................................ 38,785 - 22,896 - 8,808 - - - 8,808 -

Recoveries, Other (Net)..................................... 29,114 - 52,737 - - - - - - -

Total Available................................................. 1,646,789 10,830 1,615,654 10,234 1,897,201 12,118 -168,439 -2,275 1,728,762 9,843

Bal. Available, EOY............................................ -22,896 - -8,808 - -8,808 - - - -8,808 -

Total Obligations................................................ 1,623,893 10,830 1,606,846 10,234 1,888,393 12,118 -168,439 - -2,275 1,719,954 9,843

Notes:

b/ Previously Landownership Management

c/ Other includes cost pool authority 

a/ Hazardous Fuels is shifted from Wildland Fire Management FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability 

The following cost recovery and clearing accounts are excluded from the National Forest System project statements because they are not discretionary 

appropriations: Forest Service Maps Sales, Uniform Allowance, Personal Property Sale, Payroll Rejects, Travel Relocation Taxes. If included, the ending balance 

would increase by $5 million in 2016 and $4.7 million in 2017. 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
63 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousdands)

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Obligations:

Integrated Resource Restoration Pilot......... $161,269 1,450 $165,063 1,492 - 1,492 - -1,492 - - 

Collaborative Forest Landscape 

Restoration......................................... 42,893 268 42,357 260 $30,254 260 -$30,254 -260 - - 

Land Management Planning and Inventory 

Monitoring.......................................... -- 141,280 768 143,789 768 +50,858 -70 $194,647 698 

Land Management Planning.......................... 26,504 224 3,705 - - - - - - - 

Hazardous Fuels a/.......................................... - - - - 387,352 1,884 +2,648 - 390,000 1,884 

Inventory and Monitoring............................. 121,572 857 5,306 - - - - - - - 

Recreation, Heritage, & Wilderness............. 179,639 1,862 187,352 1,851 180,266 1,851 -20,562 -109 159,704 1,742 

Wildlife &Fisheries Habitat Management... 81,650 749 78,669 737 105,665 737 -20,762 -73 84,903 664 

Grazing Management...................................... 39,558 428 42,801 444 40,364 444 -8,400 -63 31,964 381 

Forest Products................................................ 229,713 2,485 207,578 2,284 266,910 2,284 -24,143 -106 242,767 2,178 

Vegetation & Watershed Management....... 103,407 829 103,900 779 144,055 779 -17,782 -51 126,273 728 

Minerals & Geology Management................ 56,447 461 60,596 458 58,002 458 -10,456 -48 47,546 410 

Land Use Authorization and Access b/....... 64,733 526 50,612 503 54,280 503 -7,679 -36 46,601 467 

Law Enforcement Operations......................... 106,776 691 110,933 658 108,739 658 +3,360 +33 112,099 691 

Valles Caldera................................................... -1 - - - - - - - - - 

 Nation Forest Systems - Other c/................. 409,732 - 406,694 - 368,716 - -85,267 - 283,449 - 

Total Obligations............................................. 1,623,893 10,830 1,606,846 10,234 1,888,393 12,118 -168,439 -2,275 1,719,954 9,843

Bal. Available, EOY............................................ 22,896 - 8,808 - 8,808 - - - 8,808 - 

Total Available................................................. 1,646,789 10,830 1,615,654 10,234 1,897,201 12,118 -168,439 -2,275 1,728,762 9,843

Transfers In......................................................... -70,543 - -38,743 - - - - - - -

Transfers Out...................................................... 1,016 - 10,040 - - - - - - -

Rescission............................................................ - - 2,000 - 2,000 - -2,000 - - - 

Bal. Available, SOY............................................ -38,785 - -22,896 - -8,808 - - - -8,808 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net)..................................... -29,114 - -52,737 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation........................................ 1,509,364 10,830 1,513,318 10,234 1,890,393 12,118 -170,439 -2,275 1,719,954 9,843

Notes:

b/ Previously Landownership Management

c/ Other includes cost pool spending and prior year activity in obsolete programs

a/ Hazardous Fuels is shifted from Wildland Fire Management to National Forest System in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability 

The following cost recovery and clearing accounts are excluded from the National Forest System project statements because they are not discretionary 

appropriations: Forest Service Maps Sales, Uniform Allowance, Personal Property Sale, Payroll Rejects, Travel Relocation Taxes. If included, obligations would 

increase by $2.8 million 2016 and $2.8 million in 2017. 

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
64 

Justifications 

Four Year Summary of Appropriations and Staff Years 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 

(1) A decrease of $39,728,000 and 260 staff years ($39,728,000 and 260 staff years in 2018). 

The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) program promotes collaborative, science-based ecosystem 

restoration of priority forest landscapes. 

Elimination of this program will reduce duplication among Federal programs, as other Forest Service programs also 

do restoration work on National Forest System lands. The agency will leverage the lessons learned in the CFLR 

program and apply it to existing programs that do similar work. 

Land Management Planning, Assessment and Monitoring 

(2) A decrease of $24,936,000 and 70 staff years ($181,686,000 and 768 staff years in 2018). 

Base funds for the Land Management Planning, Assessment and Monitoring program ensure the productive and 

sustainable use of National Forest System lands through sound science and long-term land use planning as required 

by the National Forest Management Act. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Land Management Planning establishes the management framework for the 193 million acres of our 

Nation’s forests and grasslands. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and 

Productive. 

Base funds will be used to support 698 staff years to complete land management plans, revisions to plans, plan 

amendments, and assessments. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Integrated Resource Restoration Pilot - 1,450 - 1,492 - 1,492 - -1,492 - - 

Collaborative Forest Landscape 

Restoration $40,000 268 $40,000 260 $39,728 260 -$39,728 (1) -260 - - 

Land Management Planning, 

Assessment & Monitoring - - 182,928 768 181,686 768 -24,936 (2) -70 $156,750 698 

Land Management Planning 36,998 224 - - - - - - - - 

Inventory and Monitoring 147,998 857 - - - - - - - - 

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 261,719 1,862 264,595 1,851 262,798 1,851 -22,562 (3) -109 240,236 1,742 

Wildlife & Fisheries Habitat 

Management 140,466 749 140,466 737 139,512 737 -20,762 (4) -73 118,750 664 

Hazardous Fuels - - - - 387,352 1,884 +2,648 (5) - 390,000 1,884 

Grazing Management 56,856 428 56,856 444 56,470 444 -8,400 (6) -63 48,070 381 

Forest Products 359,805 2,485 367,805 2,284 365,307 2,284 -24,142 (7) -106 341,165 2,178 

Vegetation & Watershed Management 184,716 829 184,716 779 183,462 779 -17,782 (8) -51 165,680 728 

Minerals and Geology Management 76,423 461 75,569 458 75,056 458 -10,456 (9) -48 64,600 410 

Land Use Authorization and Access 77,730 526 73,730 503 73,229 503 -7,679 (10) -36 65,550 467 

Law Enforcement Operations 126,653 691 126,653 658 125,793 658 +3,360 (11) +33 129,153 691 

National Forest System Total 1,509,364 10,830 1,513,318 10,234 1,890,393 12,118 -170,439 -2,275 1,719,954 9,843

Program

 2019 President's 

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
65 

a) A decrease of $24,936,000 for land management plans, revisions to plans, plan amendments, and 

assessments. 

At this funding level, the agency will continue to focus on completing high-priority land management 

plans, as well as revisions and amendments completed with data obtained through inventory, monitoring, 

and assessment activities on national forests and grasslands. The decrease in funding and emphasis on 

completing high-priority plans will reduce work on lower-priority land management plans. 

Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness 

(3) A decrease of $22,562,000 and 109 staff years ($262,798,000 and 1,851 staff years in 2018). 

The national forests and grasslands receive over 149 million visits annually for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, 

and other activities. To sustain and grow this level of use, the Forest Service is investing its resources in simplifying 

the permitting process for outfitters and guides, maintaining and growing strong collaborations with partners and 

volunteer groups, and working to address the recreational needs of today’s public, who want year-round activities on 

National Forest System lands. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 In rural areas where other employment opportunities may not be available, this program supports about 

143,000 full-time and part-time jobs and contributes about $10.3 billion to the Gross Domestic Product. 

 The agency manages about 30,000 permits for recreational uses across the United States, including ski 

resorts, marinas, and lodges. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic Objective to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities. The benefits to rural communities from visitors to National Forest System 

lands continue long after visitors leave the forest. Visitors spend money in rural communities on everything from 

lodging and restaurants to ski lessons and river guides. To increase access to the lands, the agency is simplifying its 

permit process for outfitters and guides and other commercial uses of National Forest System lands. 

Base funds will be used to support 1,742 staff years to support access to National Forest System lands and to 

simplify the agency permit process. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $22,562,000 to support recreational access to National Forest System lands, Wilderness 

and Wild and Scenic Rivers, and management of special use authorizations for recreation. 

At this funding level, there will be a slight decrease in recreation services. The Forest Service will focus on 

delivering critical agency recreation services, including operating visitor centers and campgrounds, 

completing key recreation and tourism plans, and managing Wilderness areas and Wild and Scenic Rivers. 

The agency will focus on providing better customer service to the public, including modernizing the 

permitting process for recreation activities and implementing a user-friendly ePermit system so that the 

public and small businesses (outfitters and guides) can more easily obtain permits and operate in national 

forests. Through these efforts, the agency will continue to improve public access to National Forest System 

lands for local communities who depend on these lands for jobs and economic vitality. 

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 

(4) A decrease of $20,762,000 and 73 staff years ($139,512,000 and 737 staff years in 2018). 

Base funds for the Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management program will continue to work toward keeping 

wildlife and fish populations robust, and foster conditions for clean, abundant water to help ensure the productive 

and sustainable use of National Forest System lands. The program emphasizes reforestation and revegetation efforts 

in support of ecological restoration and post-wildfire recovery. Restoring ecosystems ensures that vital amenities 

such as clean water and recreational opportunities are available to society. 
66 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Hunters, anglers, and wildlife viewers spend $7.7 billion annually for their activities and equipment used 

for recreation on National Forest System lands. 

 These expenditures supported 189,000 jobs and $878 million in Federal income tax receipts in the agency’s 

most recent economic analysis. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and

Productive. The Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management program is a key part of the agency’s restoration work 

that also includes Forest Products, Hazardous Fuels, Vegetation and Watershed Management, and Roads. Together, 

these programs create healthy, resilient landscapes and communities that support key mission goals. 

Biologists funded by this program are also critical to planning and implementing timber projects, as they do the 

environmental analyses required for timber sales to move forward. The agency will focus on achieving multiple 

resource objectives in priority areas to restore forest health. Restoring and sustaining forests allows us to provide the 

timber, clean water, abundant wildlife, and recreational opportunities that the public expects from its National Forest 

System lands. 

Base funds will be used to support 664 staff years to manage watershed restoration and critical aquatic and terrestrial 

habitats that sustain local communities and economies. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $20,762,000 for watershed improvements to sustain or restore watershed function and 

resilience. 

At this funding level, the agency will focus on the most critical areas of aquatic and terrestrial habitat to 

support recovery for degraded habitats; species of conservation concern; and species important for quality 

fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing opportunities. With these funds, the agency will accomplish 2.1 

million acres of restoration and improve 14 watersheds in FY 2019. 

Hazardous Fuels Reduction 

(5) An increase of $2,648,000 and 0 staff years ($387,352,000 and 1,884 staff years in 2018). 

Reducing hazardous fuel loads is often the most effective way to protect communities in fire-prone areas, 

protect firefighters and the public, restore forest and grassland health, and reduce the need for costly fire 

response operations. The program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands 

by restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes, creating safer fire adapted communities, and improving 

response to wildfires. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Our Nation’s ability to protect its forest and grassland resources is at risk due to drought, increasingly 

severe wildfires, and uncharacteristically large outbreaks of insects and disease. Such stresses and 

disturbances are impacting forests, grasslands, and watersheds on an unprecedented scale, causing millions 

of dollars in damage and limiting the ability to obtain economically viable products from our forests. 

 Managing hazardous fuel loads is critical to protecting the American public, providing for firefighter 

safety, and conserving the Nation’s natural resources. 

 Hazardous fuels reduction requires skilled workers – whether trained in prescribed fire or mechanical 

treatments – thus the program serves as an important source of jobs in rural communities where job 

opportunities are scarce. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic objectives to Ensure Lands and Watersheds and Sustainable, Healthy, and 

Productive and Mitigate Fire Risk. Hazardous Fuels is a key part of the agency’s restoration work that also includes 

Forest Products, Vegetation and Watershed, Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat, and Roads. Together, these programs 

efficiently create healthy, resilient landscapes and safer communities. Healthy, resilient landscapes have a greater 
67 

capacity to adapt to and withstand natural disturbances and large-scale threats to sustainability. Research1

 has shown 

that for every $1 invested in thinning at-risk forests, more than $3 in avoided costs, such as insurance claims and 

wildfire suppression responses, can be realized. 

Funds will be used to support 1,884 staff years and strategic investments in prescribed fire, mechanical fuels 

reduction, and thinning activities to reduce severe wildfire effects in high-risk areas. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) An increase of $2,648,000 for the treatment of an additional 400,000 acres on NFS and non-federal lands 

(3,400,000 acres total). 

Grazing Management 

(6) A decrease of $8,400,000 and 63 staff years ($56,470,000 and 444 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for the Grazing Management program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands for grazing, and supports the U.S. ranching community’s use of National Forest System lands by 

maintaining a sustainable supply of forage for their livestock. This program properly manages rangelands support 

ecosystems that provide secure food sources, sustain water resources, and provide wildlife habitat and other natural 

resource benefits. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 In rural areas, grazing activities contribute to over 14,000 jobs and $706 million to the Nation’s economy 

each year. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objectives to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities; Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive; and 

Mitigate Wildfire Risk. Proper management of grazing use was one of the core reasons for the establishment of 

forest reserves that eventually became the National Forest System. Currently, the Grazing Management program 

maintains and restores rangelands throughout the 193 million acres of the national forests and grasslands. The Forest 

Service works closely with grazing associations and individual ranchers for the active management of the Nation’s 

rangelands. 

Base funds will be used to support 381 staff years to manage existing permits focusing on basic stewardship in order 

to ensure that grazing will be sustained at the appropriate levels. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $8,400,000 for the administration of grazing permits and the completion of NEPA decisions. 

The agency will restore and manage rangelands to be resilient to threats such as drought, disease, and 

invasive species at slightly reduced levels from FY 2018, and will continue to support livestock grazing and 

strong rural communities. 

 

1 Buckley, M., N. Beck, P. Bowden, M. E. Miller, B. Hill, C. Luce, W. J. Elliot, N. Enstice, K. Podolak, E. Winford, S. L. Smith, 

M. Bokach, M. Reichert, D. Edelson, and J. Gaither. 2014. “Mokelumne watershed avoided cost analysis: Why Sierra fuel 

treatments make economic sense.” A report prepared for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, and U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Auburn, California. Online: 

http://www.sierranevadaconservancy.ca.gov/mokelumne. 
68 

Forest Products 

(7) A decrease of $24,142,000 and 106 staff years ($365,307,000 and 2,284 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for the Forest Products program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System 

lands by supporting healthy and resilient forests and communities. This program generates timber jobs in rural 

America through the sale of approximately 3 billion board feet of timber in both FY 2016 and FY 2017. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 In rural communities where other job opportunities are scarce, this program generates over 43,000 jobs and 

about $3.2 billion of gross domestic product annually. 

 Timber sales are an important tool for accomplishing resource management objectives on National Forest 

System lands. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and

Productive. The Forest Products program is a key part of the agency’s restoration work that also includes Hazardous 

Fuels, Vegetation and Watershed, Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat, and Roads. Together, these programs create 

healthy, resilient landscapes and communities. 

Demand is growing for the multitude of services that national forests and grasslands provide. Accelerating 

restoration treatments is critical to supporting healthy and resilient forests and communities. New efficiencies are 

expected through increasing timber sales. Proposed funding for this program will result in the agency achieving a 

timber output of 3.7 billion board feet in FY 2019. 

Base funds will be used to support 2,178 staff years to complete analyses, plan, prepare, implement and administer 

timber sales. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $24,142,000 for planning, preparation, and administration of timber and forest products 

sales. 

At this funding level, the agency will be able to accomplish the necessary planning and administration to 

sell 3.7 billion board feet of timber in FY 2019. The Forest Service will continue to focus on modernizing 

its forest products program and addressing ongoing capacity challenges to the fullest extent possible with 

available funding. The agency will continue to expand utilization of 2014 Farm Bill authorities - including 

the Good Neighbor Authority, insect and disease designations, and stewardship contracting - to increase its 

ability to treat more acres. The agency will integrate forest products activities with Hazardous Fuels 

program work by planning, designing, and delivering on projects that meet multiple objectives on the 

ground. 

Vegetation and Watershed Management 

(8) A decrease of $17,782,000 and 51 staff years ($183,462,000 and 779 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for the Vegetation and Watershed Management program ensures the productive and sustainable use of 

National Forest System lands by improving the growth and health of timber stands, reducing the risk of severe 

flooding and erosion in forests affected by severe fire, and helping keep water clean. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Sixty million Americans rely on clean drinking water that originates on national forests and grasslands. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and

Productive. Vegetation and Watershed Management program is a key part of the agency’s restoration work that also 
69 

includes Forest Products, Hazardous Fuels, Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat and Roads. Together, these programs 

create healthy, resilient landscapes and communities that support key mission goals. 

Funds will be used to support 728 staff years to restore lands through post-wildfire reforestation, planting, forest 

thinning, and invasive species management. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $17,782,000 for vegetation and watershed restoration. 

The agency will continue to focus on priority timber stand improvement projects and critical post-fire 

restoration work to reduce hazardous fuels and the potential for severe flooding and erosion on National 

Forest System lands. The agency will emphasize post-fire restoration work to stabilize soils and restore 

appropriate forest cover on impacted lands. This will improve the quality of water coming off National 

Forest System lands. The agency will continue to improve timber stand density with a focus on reducing 

hazardous fuels and protecting communities, advancing vegetation composition and structure to restore 

forest health, and boosting the quality of future timber products. 

At this funding level, the agency will accomplish 2.1 million acres of restoration and improve 14 

watersheds in FY 2019. 

Minerals and Geology Management

(9) A decrease of $10,456,000 and 48 staff years ($75,056,000 and 458 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for the Minerals and Geology Management program ensures the productive and sustainable use of 

National Forest System lands for energy and mineral development. National Forest System lands produce enough 

energy annually to power nearly eight million homes for a year, and mineral and energy production contribute 

almost $8 billion to the Nation’s economy annually. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Every appropriated dollar invested in leasable minerals, such as oil, gas, and coal, returns about seven 

dollars to the Treasury. 

 In rural communities where other job opportunities are scarce, this program assists with producing 56,000 

jobs. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities. Developing oil and gas leases on National Forest System lands provides 

substantial energy for the Nation and significant economic contributions to rural communities. The Minerals and 

Geology Management program works with State and local partners to manage inspection, oversight, and monitoring 

of mineral operations on National Forest System lands. 

Base funds will be used to support 410 staff years to manage and process mineral applications and complete 

standard operating plans. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $10,456,000 for the processing of mineral applications. 

The funding level supports priority mineral applications and critical mineral operations that help meet 

standards of operating plans. At this funding level, the agency will be able to administer more than 12,700 

mineral operations and process almost 8,900 mineral applications. 
70 

Land Use Authorization and Access (previously Landownership Management) 

(10)A decrease of $7,679,000 and 36 staff years ($73,229,000 and 503 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for the Land Use Authorization and Access program ensures the productive and sustainable use of 

National Forest System lands for rural and national infrastructure. The Land Use Authorization and Access program 

lays the foundation for all land and natural resource management activities on National Forest System lands. The 

program secures and protects National Forest System lands and land interests. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 The agency manages 47,500 permits for National Forest System land uses such as cell towers, oil and gas 

pipelines, internet fiber optic lines, and electric transmission lines. 

 The Forest Service is improving the quality of life in rural America by managing 4,000 communications 

sites on National Forest System lands. These services enhance and expand telecommunications provided to 

rural communities via broadband, personal communications systems, and emergency services. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities. National Forest System lands host cell towers, oil and gas pipelines, fiber 

optic (broadband) lines, emergency communications facilities, power lines, road rights-of-way, and other 

infrastructure that provide critical services to rural communities and the Nation. Through program implementation 

and land use authorizations, Forest Service staff ensure that economically valuable public services and benefits from 

National Forest System lands are provided. 

Base funds will be used to support 467 staff years to administer and process special use permits. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $7,679,000 for issuing special use permits for uses of Forest Service lands. 

At this funding level, the agency will continue to make strategic investments in facilitating access to 

National Forest System lands for economic benefit. Facilitating access includes processing and permitting 

special use authorizations, reducing permit backlogs, and standardizing business practices to provide more 

certainty to permittees. This decrease will slightly reduce the agency’s ability to facilitate this access. 

Law Enforcement and Investigations 

(11)An increase of $3,360,000 and 33 staff years ($125,793,000 and 658 staff years in 2018). 

The program is charged with providing a safe environment for the public, agency employees, and protecting the 

Nation’s natural resources on approximately 193 acres of National Forest System lands in 44 States. Law 

Enforcement and Investigation (LEI) staff enforce laws and regulations, investigate crimes, and minimize risks to 

the public and employee health and safety. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 LEI provides a highly visible uniformed patrol presence and rapid emergency response to incidents 

affecting the public and employees visiting or working on National Forest System lands. 

 LEI is the lead organization in combating 80 percent of marijuana growth on Federal public lands. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Objective to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities. Protecting the public, employees, and natural resources is a critical service 

provided by Forest Service law enforcement, especially as visitor rates and other non-recreational activities on 

National Forest System lands are expected to increase. LEI staff frequently respond to catastrophic or manmade 

disasters at the local, regional, and national level, and commonly provide immediate emergency response in support 

of wildland fire incidents and other natural disasters on public lands and nearby communities. 
71 

Funds will be used to support 691 staff years as well as regular and recurring patrols, response to crimes, and 

complex criminal and civil investigations ranging from infractions to serious felonies. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) An increase of $3,360,000 for marijuana eradication. 

Funds will support marijuana eradication operations and marijuana grow site clean-up and reclamation on 

National Forest System lands. Many of these marijuana sites have extremely toxic chemicals, pesticides, 

and rodenticides that significantly impact the environment, including the water sources that wildlife and 

many communities rely on for clean, safe drinking water. 

 
72 

Classification by Objects 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Personnel Compensation:

11.0 Total personnel compensation..................................... $736,226 $713,571 $823,785 $669,130

12.0 Personnel benefits.......................................................... 282,320 288,332 315,896 256,591

13.0 Benefits for former personnel........................................ 6,983 5,343 7,813 6,347

Total, personnel comp. and benefits......................... 1,025,529 1,007,246 1,147,494 932,068

Other Objects:

21.0 Travel and transportation of persons.......................... 44,892 28,875 35,680 37,942

22.0 Transportation of things................................................ 9,976 14,436 17,838 18,969

23.1 Rent payments to GSA................................................... 13,966 14,820 18,312 19,474

23.2 Rental payments to others............................................. 20,950 21,581 26,667 28,358

23.3 Communications, utilities, and misc. charges............. 32,921 29,780 36,798 39,131

24.0 Printing and reproduction.............................................. 2,993 2,603 3,216 3,420

25.1 Advisory and assistance services............................... 1,995 164 203 215

25.2 Other Services................................................................. 177,572 175,211 216,500 230,233

25.3 Purchases of goods and services................................. 162,608 153,671 189,884 201,927

25.4 Operation and maintenance of facilities...................... 1,995 1,522 1,881 2,000

25.5 Research and development contracts.......................... 249 1,062 1,312 1,395

25.6 Medical care..................................................................... 100 132 163 173

25.7 Operation and maintenance of equipment.................. 4,988 8,168 10,093 10,733

26.0 Supplies and materials.................................................... 33,918 41,599 51,402 54,662

31.0 Equipment........................................................................ 23,942 24,050 29,718 31,602

32.0 Land and Structures....................................................... 455 696 860 915

41.0 Grants................................................................................ 64,844 80,321 99,249 105,543

42.0 Insurance Claims and Indemnities................................ 0 909 1,123 1,194

Total , Other Objects................................................... 598,364 599,600 740,899 787,886

99.9 Total, new obligations.............................................. 1,623,893 1,606,846 1,888,393 1,719,954

$233 $218 $202 $202

Position Data:

Average Salary (dollars), ES positions........................ $171,088 $174,534 $177,850 $177,850

Average Salary (dollars), GS positions........................ $62,466 $65,434 $66,677 $66,677

Average Grade, GS positions........................................ 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.5

DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3)...............
73 

Status of Programs 

The National Forest System appropriation funds our management of over 193 million acres of national forests and 

grasslands. By conserving forests and grasslands, the agency provides sustainable timber products and conserves air 

quality, water, plants, wildlife, and fisheries. The agency facilitates mining, timber, and restoration projects on 

National Forest System lands, creating jobs and wealth in rural economies. The agency provides a vast array of 

recreational opportunities to millions of Americans, including hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. The agency 

also partners with local communities and other agencies to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildland fires. 

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 

Current Activities: 

By working more closely with communities, Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) 

projects are identifying innovative techniques for getting work done, increasing community support for 

restoration projects, and generally increasing the capacity and pace of restoration work in CFLRP project 

areas. The program also supports local rural communities through the generation of forest products such as 

timber and biomass for bioenergy production, as well as the creation and maintenance of jobs. In FY 2017, 

CFLR projects supported 6,850 jobs and generated $276 million in local labor income through restoration 

work. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 CFLR projects are continuing their focus on integrating projects that reduce wildfire risk in project 

landscapes and produce forest products that provide local jobs. In FY 2017, a total of over 452,000 acres 

were treated for hazardous fuels both in and outside of the wildland urban interface. In addition, over 440 

million board feet of timber was sold. Similar results are expected in FY 2018. 

 The projects continue to focus on community engagement and bringing partner funds to restoration efforts. 

Projects involve over 200 local partners in shared stewardship. The focused investment through CFLRP has 

attracted significant partner investments on National Forest System lands – an average of nearly $19.5 

million per year2

. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Mount Hall Fire in Idaho quickly contained due to CFLR treatments: The Kootenai Valley Restoration Initiative 

(KVRI) CFLR project on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest brings local, State, tribal, environmental, and 

business interests together to improve the health of the Kootenai Valley landscape and communities. Since it began 

in 2012, the KVRI project has completed over 13,000 acres of hazardous fuels treatments to reduce the risk of 

catastrophic wildfire, and in August 2017 these treatments were put to the test. 

Weather leading up to discovery of the August fire had been extremely hot and dry with no significant moisture 

since June. However, due to previous fuels treatments and resulting lack of fuels, observed fire behavior was low 

and well within the local capabilities to directly suppress the fire. Due to minimal fire behavior, even under extreme 

fire danger conditions, the fire was controlled within two days of discovery. Local firefighters observed that had the 

fire spread into the adjacent untreated forest, there would likely have been crown fires with high rates of spread. 

Jobs and job training on the Uncompahgre Plateau in Colorado: The Uncompahgre Plateau CFLR project in western 

Colorado works to restore forest health, increase forest resilience to future disturbances and protect nearby 

communities and resources. There has been active harvest associated with the project since 2010, which supports 

jobs for loggers in the forest, truck drivers, and mill/firewood operators. From 2011-2017, the project supported an 

average of 117 jobs per year and generated a total of $28.5 million in labor income. Youth engagement and job 

training with local high school students has also been a project highlight. Students gain valuable experience in 

natural resource management through internships monitoring the results of the restoration treatments. Since 2010, 63 

high school students and ten teachers have participated in the program. 

Program Evaluations: 

 

2 Average based on 2012-2016 data, as 2016 is the most recent year for which data is currently available and 2012 was the first 

year with 23 projects. Partner investments includes through agreement and in-kind contributions. 
74 

Between April-September of 2017, third-party researchers3

 investigated the CFLRP and the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape 

Restoration Partnership (JCLRP) to obtain detailed perspectives on the program and reach external partners. The 

objectives were to understand the value added by the CFLRP and JCLRP, to identify factors that support success 

and persistent challenges, and to inform future implementation and design of collaborative restoration approaches. 

Results include: 

 The majority of agency staff reported success at achieving project objectives and said the CFLRP allows 

forests to focus on their high priority work. 

 The most valuable aspect of the CFLRP has been the long-term funding commitment and prioritization of a 

particular landscape. These features incentivized collaborators to invest their time and effort, helped to 

leverage resources, and allowed for a coordinated program of work across the landscape. 

 The CFLRP legitimized collaboration as a way of doing business and, in most places, decreased conflict 

and litigation. 

 Most respondents reported significant progress in addressing the threat of fire in their project areas, 

although more could be done through application of prescribed fire and maintenance of treatments. 

 The projects support existing industry, but have not been able to support new wood products markets and 

facilities.

Land Management Planning, Assessment and Monitoring 

Current Activities: 

Beginning in FY 2018, the Inventory and Monitoring and Land Management Planning budget line items were 

combined into one budget line item; Land Management Planning, Assessment and Monitoring. Land Management 

Planning, Assessment and Monitoring program activities are the foundation for the agency’s mission to keep forests 

and grasslands healthy and resilient. The land management plans (LMPs) guide management activities on the 154 

national forests and 20 grasslands in the National Forest System. Managing lands requires a continuous cycle of 

assessing, planning, implementing, and adjusting programs and projects based on new information. Inventory and 

monitoring provide information to complete LMP revisions and amendments using a collaborative and sciencebased framework. This ensures that up-to-date information and the best available science are used in forest plans. 

Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Addressing public engagement requirements under the National Forest Management Act and the National 

Environmental Policy Act to build networks across the agency and with partners. 

 Addressing opportunities to develop, improve, and clarify policies, processes, and tools for conducting 

environmental analyses and decision making so we can implement plans more efficiently and effectively. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Land management planning: The agency is currently revising 27 LMPs under the 2012 Planning Rule, as well as 

five others under the 1982 Planning Procedures. Revisions using the 1982 Procedures were underway in FY 2017 

and are expected to be completed in FY 2018, as well as three LMPs under the 2012 Planning Rule. Forest Service 

field units with up-to-date plans can focus on achieving agency goals through projects for restoration, fuel 

treatments, special uses, timber supply, infrastructure, and access to National Forest Systems lands. Project level 

decision making is significantly more effective and efficient if it can be tiered to current and relevant desired 

conditions and objectives in land management plans. 

Monitoring transition: Over 90 non-exempt units have completed the requirements for transitioning their monitoring 

programs over to the requirements of the new Planning Rule. The first biennial monitoring reports for units with 

transitioned monitoring programs are expected in FY 2018. Other transitioned units, as well as units completing 

revisions under the new planning rule, are expected to complete monitoring reports in FY 2019 and later. 

 

3 Schultz, C, K. McIntyre, L. Cyphers, A. Ellison, C. Kooistra, and C. Moseley. 2017. “Strategies for success under Forest 

Service restoration initiatives.” University of Oregon Ecosystem Workforce Program. Online: 

https://ewp.uoregon.edu/sites/ewp.uoregon.edu/files/WP_81.pdf. 
75 

The evaluation results in these reports will provide the basis for determining progress towards meeting desired 

conditions and objectives in land management plans and the need for any adjustments to plan content or specific 

projects that are implementing plans. 

Improving assessments and plan development: The agency has been compiling “lessons learned” to improve 

assessments, plan development, and the content and processes associated with land management plan monitoring. 

Significant progress on streamlining forest assessments has occurred by focusing on topics tied directly to the need 

for changing plan content. This includes establishing processes for ensuring that monitoring questions and indicators 

reflect progress towards, or achievement of, specific desired conditions, objectives and other plan components. 

Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness 

Current Activities: 

The national forests and grasslands receive over 149 million visits annually for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, 

and other activities. To sustain and grow this level of use, the Forest Service is investing its resources in simplifying 

our permitting process for outfitters and guides, maintaining and growing strong collaborations with partners and 

volunteer groups, and working to address the recreational desires of today’s public, who want year-round activities 

on National Forest System lands. This program provides public recreational access to over 193 million acres of 

scenic lands, with more than 157,000 miles of trails, 27,000 developed recreation sites, 220,000 miles of fishable 

streams, 122 ski areas, and 380,000 heritage sites. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Modernizing the entire special use program to reduce regulatory barriers, enhance customer service, and 

promote rural economies. The Forest Service is making it easier to obtain permits online and on mobile 

apps, and practicing sensible customer service and user-friendly approaches. 

 Initiated an “Iconic Places” framework to increase the agency’s emphasis on quality experiences and to 

leverage investments in high-profile areas. The framework will capitalize on the quality of existing features 

or existing recreation opportunities. 

 Implementation of two initiatives: (1) Wilderness Stewardship Performance – a measure tracked by the 

agency to monitor wilderness-specific baseline performance goals; and (2) Wilderness Character 

Monitoring – an interagency strategy to measure how well the agency is meeting its primary responsibility 

to preserve wilderness character under the Wilderness Act. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Iconic Places: In FY 2017, we completed a National Assessment of Forest Service Iconic Places (landscapes with 

special designations and/or acute public interest). We are using this assessment to evaluate forest resource and 

management needs, strengths, trends, and opportunities. In particular, surveys and case studies from the assessment 

are informing investments in recreation planning principles, foundations, and tools. 

Dark Night Skies: The program developed a recreation initiative in FY 2017 focused on “dark night skies”. We 

worked closely with the Forest Service’s National Partnerships Office to educate and market the dark night skies 

concept to the agency and public. As a result of this work, we have three potential dark sky sanctuary designations 

on National Forests, and have produced a handbook outlining how to manage lighting to preserve views of dark 

skies for the public. In addition, we have established dark skies marketing tools within the Forest Service’s “It’s All 

Yours” public awareness campaign, and developed TV programming that highlights National Forest Night Sky 

efforts (Travels with Darley). https://travelswithdarley.com/ 

50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: The 50th Anniversary of the Act in 2018 will provide a historic 

opportunity to not only highlight the values of wild and scenic rivers, and also showcase the Forest Service’s 

leadership in managing water resources, including nearly 60 percent of all designated wild and scenic rivers in the 

Nation. Our wild and scenic river program includes working interagency and across interdisciplinary program areas 

to build partnerships with local organizations and communities during the anniversary year. These partnerships will 

help the agency to complete comprehensive river management plans, which provide a roadmap to preserve freeflowing rivers, and develop collaborative water quality restoration approaches to address impairment issues on wild 

and scenic rivers. 
76 

Program Evaluations: 

Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Report on “Review of Forest Service Controls over Explosives and 

Magazines” (OIG-08016-0001-23). Forest Service permittees use both explosives and munitions for avalanche 

control. Throughout the National Forest System, the Forest Service maintains a significant number of facilities 

called magazines. The OIG reviewed Forest Service controls to monitor and secure explosives and munitions stored 

on National Forest System lands. The agency has designated a Washington Office-level official to be responsible for 

overall safety and security of Forest Service explosives per OIG’s recommendation. The Forest Service official 

oversees the implementation of and monitors the controls over: accounting for magazines, maintaining accurate 

inventories of explosives, restricting access to the magazines, and ensuring staff conduct required periodic 

inspections. 

Wildlife & Fisheries Habitat Management 

Current Activities: 

The Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management program works toward keeping wildlife and fish populations 

robust, and fosters conditions for clean, abundant water to help ensure the productive and sustainable use of National 

Forest System lands. The program emphasizes reforestation and revegetation efforts in support of ecological 

restoration, and post-wildfire recovery. Restoring ecosystems ensures that vital amenities such as clean water and 

recreational opportunities are available to society. In the lower 48 States, the National Forest System lands contain 

80 percent of elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat habitat; the majority of habitat remaining for rare and wideranging carnivores such as grizzly bear4

 and Canada Lynx5; greater than 28 million acres of wild turkey habitat; and 

50 percent of the Nation’s premier trout and salmon habitat. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Aquatic management includes enhancing aquatic organism passage, reconnecting habitat and making 

stream crossings less susceptible to failure after fires or floods; removing invasive species, and enhancing 

riparian conditions. The national forests and grasslands contain some of the most ecologically and 

economically significant habitat remaining for the Nation, including 220,000 miles of fishable streams, 

more than 2 million acres of lakes, and five million acres of wetlands. 

 Restoring and enhancing streams and lake habitat, providing aquatic organism passage at stream crossings, 

and improving the condition of watersheds. 

 Restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat, which contributes to 40 percent of the total acres treated each 

year to restore forest and grassland ecosystems. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Alaska’s salmon harvest: Alaska’s commercial salmon harvest continues banner production, with the recent harvest 

of 219 million pink salmon providing significant contributions to local economies. Almost half of the pink salmon 

harvested originate from streams on the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska and benefit from continued 

restoration efforts. The Tongass National Forest’s watersheds and stream habitat contribute to the production of 

these prolific wild pink salmon populations. A recent economic study6

 valued Southeast Alaskan salmon at $986 

million, including the combined commercial, recreational, and unique subsistence fishery in Alaska. 

Minimize the spread of white nose syndrome among bats in the West: In spite of efforts to stem the spread of white 

nose syndrome among bats, recent monitoring efforts showed that this devastating disease has now expanded to bat 

populations in the West. We significantly increased monitoring activities in the west to track the spread of whitenose syndrome and locate and manage critical winter bat habitats to halt the further spread of this devastating 

 

4U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. “Grizzly bear recovery plan.” Missoula, MT. 181 pp. Online: 

https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/species/mammals/grizzly/Grizzly_bear_recovery_plan.pdf. 5Interagency Lynx Biology Team. 2013. “Canada lynx conservation assessment and strategy. 3rd edition.” USDA Forest Service, 

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, and USDI National Park Service. Forest Service 

Publication RI-13-19, Missoula, MT. 129 pp. Online: 

https://www.fs.fed.us/biology/resources/pubs/wildlife/LCAS_revisedAugust2013.pdf. 6 Trout Unlimited Alaska Program. 2010. “Economic contributions and impacts of salmonid resources in southeast Alaska.” 

Juneau, AK. 29 pp. Online: https://www.tu.org/sites/default/files/EconReportFull.pdf. 
77 

disease. Recent research7

 shows that the fungus behind white nose syndrome is highly sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) 

light. Researchers found that a low-dose exposure of UV light killed 85 percent of the fungi that cause white nose 

syndrome, while a moderate does exposure killed over 99 percent. (These values translate to only a few seconds of 

exposure from a hand-held UV light source.) Researchers are now working to determine if UV light can be used as a 

treatment for bats suffering from white nose syndrome. 

Endangered Species Act (ESA) process improvements: There is a need for the Forest Service to increase the pace, 

scale, and scope of ecosystem restoration in a manner that will contribute to species conservation. The ESA Section 

7 consultation process has been characterized as a barrier affecting the agency’s ability to complete timely 

environmental analyses and decision making across a variety of the Forest Service’s programs. A task force is 

identifying internal obstacles and opportunities to streamline and simplify internal practices and procedures around 

consultation and identifying challenges and opportunities with the consulting agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS)) to streamline the process, including: building 

effective relationships, joint training, consistent application of existing streamlining processes and policies, and 

identifying policy gaps and improvements. 

Status of engagement with stakeholders on sage grouse: In 2017 the Department of the Interior (DOI) issued an 

order to enhance cooperation with western states in the management of greater sage-grouse and establish a team to 

review Federal plans for sage-grouse conservation. The Chief of the Forest Service also issued a letter of 

expectations directing the Forest Service to collaborate with the DOI’s review and assessment of our current plans. 

This resulted in a Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Engagement Strategy including establishment of a specific 

position to coordinate on Greater Sage-grouse issues and new state liaisons specifically responsible for 

communicating with and transferring information to States. The Forest Service is undertaking extensive 

collaborative efforts with the States and other stakeholders, and has solicited public comments on greater sagegrouse issues. 

Hazardous Fuels Reduction 

Current Activities: 

The Nation’s forests and grasslands are stressed by extended drought, severe wildfires, and large outbreaks of 

insects and disease. These stressors and disturbances impact forests, grasslands, and watersheds and threaten rural 

communities, timber, and other forest products, utility corridors, municipal watersheds, and more, causing millions 

of dollars in damage each year. 

Hazardous fuel treatments include any vegetation manipulation, removal, or modification of wildland fuels to reduce 

the likelihood of ignition, reduce potential fire intensity and rate of spread, lessen potential damage, or limit the 

spread of invasive species and diseases. These treatments promote the natural role of fire by reducing the likelihood 

of uncharacteristically intense wildland fire and increase the agency’s capabilities to protect life and property 

(including communities-at-risk and sensitive municipal watersheds), sensitive natural resources (including native 

plant communities and threatened and endangered species), and other socially important cultural resources.

In FY 2017, the Forest Service treated over 2,750,000 acres of National Forest System lands and adjacent areas to 

mitigate wildfire risk. Nearly 60 percent of these acres were in high risk wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. The 

remaining40 percent encompasses agency prioritization of other important values, including protection of municipal 

watersheds, avoiding side effects like poor air quality and area closures, and further integrating with other objectives 

such as harvesting forest products and ecosystem restoration projects occurring outside WUI areas. Specific areas 

being prioritized and addressed currently include: 

 Analysis to inform distribution of hazardous fuels funding allocations to areas with high potential for 

damaging wildfires and highly valued resources at risk. A national assessment of wildfire risk on National 

Forest System lands was completed in FY 2017. This assessment calculated the probability and intensity of 

a large wildfire occurring. The wildfire probabilities are combined with the location and vulnerability of 

 

7Palmer, J., K. Drees, J. Foster, and D. Lindner. 2018. “Extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet light in the fungal pathogen causing

white-nose syndrome of bats.” Nature Communications (9:35). Online: 

https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2018/nrs_2018_palmer_001.pdf. 
78 

highly valued resources such as communities, municipal watersheds, and communication sites to produce a 

relative risk map. Similar analysis is occurring at regional and local scales. 

 Prioritization of hazardous fuels treatments in fire-adapted ecosystems that require periodic fire to maintain 

health and resilience. Many ecosystems on National Forest System lands evolved with, and are adapted to, 

periodic fire. Modern fire suppression and reduction of aboriginal burning practices have significantly 

reduced levels of frequent low-intensity fires. The Hazardous Fuels program prioritizes treatments in these 

areas to reduce forest health problems and risk of catastrophic wildfire. 

 Active community engagement to reduce wildfire risk on non-Federal lands and mitigate wildfire risk 

requires an all-lands approach to be effective. The program prioritizes areas where working with partners 

across boundaries allows the agency to leverage resources and work efficiently to create resilient 

landscapes. This collaboration may be in the form of cooperatively planned and funded projects across a 

shared ownership boundary or coordinating activities to leverage investments. These projects are often a 

part of larger landscape plans that were developed collaboratively. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Southern Utah: The human-caused Brian Head wildfire was started June 17, 2017 on private land near Brian Head, 

Utah. Over the next two weeks, multiple days of significant fire growth occurred, with close to 72,000 acres of 

National Forest System, Bureau of Land Management, State, and private lands (including 13 homes) eventually 

burned. The Blue Pine and Twin Lakes fuel treatment areas were among several that provided opportunities for 

firefighters to contain the fire along the south end where many structures and communities were located. The 

treatments, completed in 2006 (Blue Pine) and 2013 (Twin Lakes), consisted of timber harvest, thinning, slash 

piling, and pile burning in order to combat a bark beetle infestation and reduce fuels. Post-treatment ponderosa pine 

forests in the project areas contained little surface and ladder fuels, which was crucial to the forests withstanding the 

Brian Head wildfire. Within the Blue Pine treatments, Brian Head wildfire crews were able to quickly burn-off the 

roads with a low intensity surface fire that safely and effectively controlled the fire in the treated area before the fire 

could reach homes in Mammoth Creek. At Twin Lakes, high intensity fire spread to the treatment area where the fire 

quickly weakened to a surface fire. 

Western Montana: Efforts to restore ecosystem function and reduce the risk to public and firefighter safety 

demonstrated numerous returns during the peak of the 2017 fire season near Missoula, Montana. More than 23 

percent of land along the I-90 corridor near Missoula has received fuel reduction treatments over the past several 

years. In FY 2017, fires originating in fuel treatment areas were extinguished during initial attack because fire 

activity there occurred within historical norms of lower intensity surface fire. Suppression of the Sunrise Fire, which 

burned 26,000 acres along the I-90 corridor west of Missoula in 2017, included utilization of the Trout Creek fuels 

treatments, implemented in 2006, for an effective and safe response. These landscape scale fuels treatments are part 

of a long-term investment in the I-90 corridor, including over 10,000 acres of priority treatments to protect values at 

risk and improve ecosystem function. The Sunrise Fire is the third large fire in the last decade to be interrupted 

effectively by fuels treatments, providing for a more efficient fire response and reduction in risk to the communities 

in the corridor. Partners include volunteer fire districts, Montana Department of Natural Resources and 

Conservation, and the Rattlesnake Creek Watershed Group, which are all invested in the protection of Missoula’s 

municipal watershed. 

Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership: Implementation of projects to reduce wildfire risk to the public in 

the Dinkey Creek Recreation Area of the Sierra National Forest, CA, in association with the Central Sierra Joint 

Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership, has included partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS), the Dinkey Collaborative, and the Fresno Kings Ranger Unit of CalFire. Private lands, homes, 

Forest Service and private campgrounds, and a Girl Scout Camp in the area were heavily impacted by the tree 

mortality epidemic of the southern Sierras over the last several years. Hazardous fuels treatments, including both 

mechanical and prescribed fire, reduced wildfire risk to the communities in the area. The Joint Chiefs’ partnership 

leveraged resources from the Sierra National Forest, NRCS, private landowners, and CalFire to work across 

boundaries. This project also accomplished work under the Good Neighbor Authority and a participating agreement 

under the Wyden authority. 
79 

Program Evaluations: 

In July 2016, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued the final Audit Report “Forest Service Wildland Fire 

Activities – Hazardous Fuels Reduction” on their review of agency controls over selecting hazardous fuels reduction 

projects, assessment of Community Wildfire Protection Plans on that selection, and to follow up on corrective 

actions in response to a 2006 audit of the Hazardous Fuels Reduction program. The OIG recommended that the 

Forest Service implement risk assessments and guidance agency-wide and create a formal review process for 

hazardous fuels project selections, as well as implement new tracking measures to record accomplishments and 

require that staff charge all costs for actual work performed. The agency concurred with the recommendations and 

all corrective actions have been fully implemented. 

Grazing Management 

Current Activities: 

The Grazing Management program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands for 

grazing, and supports the U.S. ranching community’s use of National Forest System lands by maintaining a 

sustainable supply of forage for their livestock. This program properly manages rangeland ecosystems that provide 

secure food sources, sustain water resources, and provide wildlife habitat and ecosystem services. Specific areas 

being addressed currently include: 

 Properly managing rangelands over a period of 20 years has increased the agency’s capacity to sustain 1.7 

to 2.2 million livestock grazing on National Forest System lands. While drought and fires often reduce the 

number of livestock from year to year, and the length of the grazing season has been reduced slightly in 

some areas, we have worked to maintain and sustain livestock numbers on Forest Service lands. In 2016, 

the last year for which we have data, we authorized 2.1 million livestock to graze on Forest Service lands. 

 Promoting economic stability for local communities that depend on range resources, the agency sustains 

livestock forage and habitat requirements of animals and plants using vegetation as a management tool to 

promote desirable vegetation and reduce invasive plant populations. To find the best solutions and 

monitoring strategies of vegetation management, the agency works with livestock permittees and the 

relevant regulatory agencies (FWS and NMFS). 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Strengthening working relationships with livestock grazing permittees: Our livestock grazing permittees are partners 

who share in our stewardship to maintain and improve America’s forests and grasslands. Proper grazing helps 

achieve this goal while providing a commodity that is an important part of America’s economy and contributor to 

economic vitality in many communities. By properly managing their allotments, ranchers maintain or increase 

forage production, water quality, soil quality, plant diversity and cover, and wildlife habitat. The agency is 

sharpening our focus on these relationships as part of our continuing investment in customer service. 

Leveraging funds and partnerships: Forests across the country have made significant strides in leveraging funds and 

partnerships using Environmental Quality Incentive Program funds from the NRCS in cooperation with our permit 

holders to fund rangeland habitat and structural range improvements. These projects achieve multiple resource 

benefits while bolstering our ability to build and maintain structural improvements such as fences. Some forests are 

effectively using State wildlife agency funds for grassland habitat improvement projects. Forests are also partnering 

in joint monitoring efforts. 

Forest Products 

Current Activities: 

The Forest Products program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands by 

supporting healthy and resilient forests and communities. This program generates timber jobs in rural America 

through the sale of billions of board feet of timber annually. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 
80 

 The agency is moving rapidly to expand the use of the Good Neighbor Authority, which allows States to 

restore watersheds and manage forests on National Forest System lands via agreements or contracts. Master 

agreements establish a framework for the State-Forest Service collaborative relationship, with future 

projects identified in supplemental project agreements. Twenty-nine master agreements have been executed 

with agencies in 26 States. At the end of FY 2016, there were 54 agreements in 20 States—37 of which 

were project agreements. By the end of FY 2017 there were 125 agreements in 33 States—76 of which are 

project agreements. Through these project agreements, 23 million board feet of timber was sold in FY 

2016. That increased by 400 percent in FY 2017 to 93 million board feet sold. 

 The agency is identifying ways to improve and modernize our systems that produce forest products. This 

includes policies, authorities, practices, and tools that drive how the agency plans and implements projects 

that deliver forest products. One example of this work is the Digital Prescription Guide that was developed 

in Arizona on the Four Forest Restoration Initiative to increase the efficiency in planning and implementing 

timber sales. The Digital Prescription Guide involves the use of technology in the form of GPS-enabled 

tablets that can help increase the amount of acreage prepared for treatments at a lower cost per acre, while 

also reducing harvesting costs for private industry. The agency currently is in the process of implementing 

this tool throughout the Regions. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Special use permits and economic contribution: In FY 2017, the Forest Service completed more than 250,000 forest 

product permits, including over 1,100 timber sale or stewardship contracts. In total, these permits had a value of just 

over $212 million. The Forest Products program is critical to local economies, generating over 43,000 jobs and 

about $3.2 billion of gross domestic product in our most recent economic analysis. 

Timber value: In FY 2017, the agency sold about 2.9 billion board feet. This includes 2.3 billion board feet of timber 

sold with forest products funding and almost 600 million board feet sold using salvage sale funds, other permanent 

and trust funds, and Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration funding. 

Vegetation and Watershed Management 

Current Activities: 

Vegetation and Watershed Management ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands 

by improving the growth and health of timber stands, reducing the risk of severe flooding and erosion in forests 

affected by severe fire, and helping keep water clean. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 The Forest Service monitors the implementation and effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

to protect and maintain water quality amidst over 600 activities on National Forest System lands. This is 

the first systematic approach to BMP implementation across all national forests and grasslands and the first 

comprehensive approach to implementing the diverse range of activities that occur on national forests and 

grasslands. 

 The agency nurseries and their seedbanks are critical to our ability to address reforestation needs. This 

program revitalizes the seedbanks in the nurseries to address reforestation needs and support additional 

work on the ground. With 88 percent of the agency tree planting needs due to wildland fire damage, the 

agency collects the right seeds in advance of fires that might severely impact local seed sources. This 

ensures the agency has the right kinds of seeds (species) from the right geographic areas to grow seedlings 

to respond to these fires. Collecting these seeds and safeguarding them is a necessary first step to ensure the 

agency can carry out post-fire reforestation work. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Restoring watershed function and resilience: The agency tracks acres treated annually to sustain or restore watershed 

function and resilience as a composite indicator of progress and treatments on the ground accomplished through a 

wide variety of restoration actions and programs, including activities supported by other budget line items. The 

agency accomplished over 3.2 million acres of restoration treatments in both FY 2016 and FY 2017. In FY 2017, for 

the Vegetation and Watershed Program activities, this work included a total, across all funding sources of: almost 

190,000 acres of forest vegetation established; over 235,000 acres of forest vegetation improved; nearly 390,000 
81 

acres of soil and water improvements; over 1,000,000 acres of rangeland vegetation improved; and over 275,000 

acres of invasive plants and noxious weeds treated. 

Minerals and Geology Management 

Current Activities: 

The Minerals and Geology Management program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands for energy and mineral development. National Forest System lands produce enough energy annually to 

power nearly eight million homes for a year, and mineral and energy production contribute almost $8 billion to the 

Nation’s economy. The program also secures and protects unique resources, such as fossils, caves, groundwater, 

wildlife habitat, and places of scientific, cultural, and recreational interest; protects people and the environment by 

monitoring and mitigating geologic hazards like landslides; and cleans, restores, and monitors environmentally 

compromised lands contaminated by mines or other hazards. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Administering operations on over 6,700 Federal mineral leases covering over 5.3 million acres of National 

Forest System lands. Lands are currently leased for oil, natural gas, coal, phosphates, and other mineral 

commodities, or for geothermal energy. Federal mineral oil and gas operations include approximately 4,000 

wells on these leases, as well as a variety of coal and other mineral mines. Royalties are paid on any 

production. The agency also manages approximately 15,000 oil and gas wells on National Forest System 

lands with privately owned minerals. 

 Managing approximately 75,000 mining claims on the National Forest System lands. The agency also 

manages hardrock (e.g., gold, silver) mines on both small operations and world-class mines, including a 

mine which produces critical minerals (deemed by use, geography and availability of supply). In addition, 

the agency processes approximately 2,300 mineral material (e.g., sand, gravel) sale contracts or permits per 

year. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Oil and gas leases: Incorporating oil and gas leasing analysis decisions into Forest Plan Revisions will help ensure 

oil and gas leasing decisions are completed in a timely manner. This combined process, already underway in 

Regions 2 and 8, will allow increased oil and gas development. 

Impacts of groundwater: Modeling groundwater conditions related to proposed mining and oil field development 

projects has helped us assess potential impacts to groundwater. With that knowledge, we can design mitigation to 

ensure that groundwater continues to sustain streams, lakes, wetlands, and cave systems. 

Program Evaluations: 

Forests and grasslands provide many mineral- and geology-related services to the public. To improve the agency 

program of work, the program is conducting program reviews to assist the Regions in achieving their mission and 

goals, provide required oversight of program implementation, identify any needed corrective action, and recommend 

development of new, revised national direction to address any issues or concerns raised during the review. We are 

also working to ensure our program work links to agency and departmental goals. During FY 2017, we conducted 

Program Reviews of Regions 5 and 10. 

Land Use Authorization and Access (Previously Landownership Management) 

Current Activities: 

The Land Use Authorization and Access program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands for rural and national infrastructure. The Land Use Authorization and Access program lays the 

foundation for all land and natural resource management activities on National Forest System lands. The program 

secures and protects National Forest System lands and land interests. This program oversees permit processing, 

administration, and surveying for energy infrastructure and commercial interests on national forests and grasslands. 

Energy, utility, and communications infrastructure on National Forest System lands provides approximately $30 
82 

billion annually to the Gross Domestic Product, supports approximately 120,000 private sector jobs, and generates 

approximately $65 million annually to the U.S. Treasury. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Surveying lands in advance of timber sales, acquiring rights-of-way, and administering road agreements 

necessary for public and agency access for activities including timber production, transportation, and utility 

inspection. 

 Administering permits for significant energy and utility infrastructure located on National Forest System 

lands. Current permits include about 2,700 power lines carrying electricity to 70 million homes; 1,600 oil 

and gas pipelines covering 6,600 linear miles; 300 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 

licensed facilities; 1,526 designated communications sites for cellular and broadband technology; and 

significant water delivery infrastructure for communities large and small. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Permitting and land use authorization reform: The agency is nearing completion of a comprehensive modernization 

of the entire land use authorization program that will improve access to National Forests by reducing regulatory 

barriers and enhancing customer service. This effort eliminates redundancy, improves communication, and provides 

for web-based permitting to streamline applications and track permits from application through approval, 

monitoring, and renewal. 

Centralized communications site administration and billing team: The agency consolidated all communications site 

administrative and billing functions in FY 2017, dramatically improving service to customers who have 

communications site technology and hardware on National Forest System lands. This effort reviewed and updated 

all 3,995 communications use authorizations and resolved over 1,731 unidentified billings nationally, reconciling 

$8.3 million in collections. 

Program Evaluations: 

Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires all Federal agencies to designate corridors for energy 

transmission and distribution facilities on Federal lands in the 11 contiguous Western States. In FY 2017, our 

program was in the first year of its four-year environmental evaluation of all energy corridors on National Forest 

System Lands. This is to ensure use of lands is consistent with energy and natural resource protection needs and to 

remove uncertainty from the permitting process in these corridors. 

Law Enforcement and Investigations Operations 

Current Activities: 

Law Enforcement and Investigations’ (LEI) primary focus is the protection of natural resources, the public, Forest 

Service employees, and visitors on National Forest System (NFS) lands. Forest Service law enforcement staff 

provide a critical presence on a vast amount of public lands, roads, and recreation sites. Common activities include 

enforcement, and complex criminal and civil investigations involving incidents of theft, assault, alcohol and drug 

use, unauthorized motor vehicle use, illegal occupancy, trespassing, wildland fire arson, drug smuggling and 

manufacturing, fraud, and assaults and threats to employees. The program maintains numerous cooperative 

partnerships with local agencies and communities to provide a wide range of services. Specific areas being 

addressed currently include: 

 LEI staff continue to lead efforts to disrupt illegal marijuana cultivation by Drug Trafficking Organizations 

on NFS lands. Cultivation activities produce large amounts of trash, hazardous materials, and toxic 

chemicals that create a significant risk to wildlife, water, and habitat near grow areas. In FY 2017, over 1.3 

million marijuana plants were eradicated from NFS lands. 

 Over $6.8 million in funding has been dedicated to maintain approximately 500 Cooperative Law 

Enforcement Agreements with State, county and local partners. The agreements provide funding to law 

enforcement cooperators to enhance law enforcement coverage on NFS lands and ensure public safety. 
83 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Law enforcement incidents: In FY 2017, there were 4.6 documented law enforcement incidents per 10,000 forest 

visits, meeting the target (desired outcome) of six or fewer. Many of these incidents were critical emergency 

incidents involving threats to the safety of the public, agency employees, or Federal property and resources. 

Wildland fire and investigations: LEI staff are recognized as the premier wildland fire investigation agency. In FY 

2017, LEI criminal and civil fire investigation cases lead to the numerous arrests and the recovery of over $30 

million in suppression costs and restitution for damage. 

Disaster response: LEI staff continue to assist cooperators and communities with disaster response and recovery. 

During the height of the historic FY 2017 fire season, the agency sent multiple teams to Puerto Rico and the U.S. 

Virgin Islands to assist with assessment and recovery efforts following hurricanes Irma and Maria. The teams were 

qualified to operate in these types of disaster areas with little or no support, and were capable of self-sustaining 

operations for 72-96 hours. 

Program Evaluations: 

In FY 2017, LEI completed an organizational staffing realignment. The recommended realignment following an 

organizational review in FY 2016 tasked LEI with developing a long-term structure that aligns with current and 

projected budget appropriations. The realignment strategically allocated critical staff resources to provide optimal 

services oriented to protecting visitors, employees, and natural resources. In FY 2018, LEI will conduct a review of 

current performance elements, and determine whether new measures would more accurately reflect our 

performance. 

Primary Authorities 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date (if 

applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

Archaeological 

Resources Protection 

Act of 1979 

Authorizes the use of 

appropriated funds for the 

preservation and protection of 

historical and archaeological 

resources. 

 NFS P.L. 96-95 16 U.S.C. 

470aa et seq. 

Bankhead-Jones 

Farm Tenant Act of 

1937 

Authorizes and directs the 

Secretary of Agriculture to 

develop a program of land 

conservation and land 

utilization, in order to assist in 

controlling soil erosion, 

reforestation, preserving 

natural resources, and to 

cooperate with Federal, State, 

Territorial, and other public 

agencies in development and 

implementation of plans. 

 NFS P.L. 75-210 7 U.S.C. 

1011-1013a 

Cooperative Funds 

Act of June 30, 1914 

Authorizes the acceptance of 

contributions for cooperative 

work in forest investigations, 

protection, management, and 

improvement of the National 

Forest System. 

 NFS 38 Stat. 430 16 U.S.C. 498 

Endangered Species 

Act of 1973 

The Endangered Species Act 

(ESA) provides a program for 

the conservation of threatened 

and endangered plants and 

animals and the habitats in 

 NFS P.L. 93–205 16 U.S.C. 

1531 et seq. 
84 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date (if 

applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

which they are found. Section 7 

requires federal agencies to 

consult with the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service and/or the 

NOAA Fisheries Service to 

ensure that actions they 

authorize, fund or carry out are 

not likely to jeopardize the 

continued existence of any 

listed species or destroy or 

adversely modify designated 

critical habitat of such species. 

Federal Lands 

Recreation 

Enhancement Act 

Authorizes a fee retention 

program for certain recreation 

sites on Federal lands. Fees 

collected from users of 

recreation facilities are used to 

pay for on-the-ground 

operation, maintenance, and 

improvements of recreation 

sites and services to maintain 

and enhance recreation 

opportunities, visitor 

experiences, and related 

habitat. 

09/30/2018 

(the authority 

to issue annual 

passes) 

NFS P.L. 108-

447; 

P.L. 113-46; 

P.L. 113-

164; P.L. 

113-235; 

P.L. 113-

235; P.L. 

114-223 

16 U.S.C. 

6801-6814 

Good Neighbor 

Authority 

Authorizes the Secretary of 

Agriculture, via cooperative 

agreement or contract, to allow 

State agencies to perform 

watershed restoration and 

forest management services on 

National Forest System lands 

when similar and 

complementary restoration 

services are being performed 

on adjacent State or private 

lands. 

 P.L. 113-79 16 U.S.C 

2113a 

Grazing Permits / 

Rescissions Act of 

1995 

The terms and conditions 

contained in the expired, 

transferred, or waived permit or 

lease shall continue in effect 

under the renewed permit or 

lease until such time as the 

Secretary completes processing 

of such permit or lease in 

compliance with all applicable 

laws and regulations or until 

the expiration of the renewed 

permit, whichever comes first. 

At which time such permit or 

lease may be canceled, 

suspended or modified, in 

whole or in part, to meet the 

09/30/2016 NFS P.L. 108-

108, Sec. 

325; P.L. 

111-88; P.L. 

112-74; 

P.L. 113-46; 

P.L. 113-76; 

P.L. 114-113 

P.L. 104-19, 

Sec. 504 

43 U.S.C. 

1752 
85 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date (if 

applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

requirements of such applicable 

laws and regulations. 

Healthy Forests 

Restoration Act 

(HFRA) of 2003 

Title I of HFRA provides for 

expedited environmental 

review, a pre-decisional Forest 

Service administrative review 

process, and other measures on 

National Forest and Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) 

lands that are at-risk of 

catastrophic fire. Titles II 

through VI authorize various 

forest health restoration 

programs, including promoting 

the use of woody biomass, 

creating the Health Forest 

Reserve Program, and 

providing watershed forestry 

assistance. 

 ALL P.L. 108-

148; P.L. 

110-246;P.L. 

113-79 

16 U.S.C. 

6501 et seq. 

Historic Preservation 

Act of 1966 

This Act authorizes use of 

appropriated funds for the 

preservation and protection of 

historical and archaeological 

resources. 

 NFS P.L. 89-665 54 U.S.C. 

100101 et seq. 

Land and Water 

Conservation Fund 

Act of 1965 

Created by Congress in 1964, 

the Land and Water 

Conservation Fund (LWCF) 

provides money to Federal, 

State, and local governments to 

purchase land, water and 

wetlands for the benefit of all 

Americans. The Fund receives 

money from fees paid by 

companies drilling offshore for 

oil and gas. Other funding 

sources include the sale of 

surplus Federal real estate and 

taxes on motorboat fuel. 

9/30/2018 NFS P.L. 113-287 

P.L. 114-113 

54 U.S.C. Ch. 

2003 

Mineral Materials 

Act of 1947 

This Act provides authority to: 

(a) dispose of mineral material 

and (b) approve and issue 

permits to explore and develop 

oil and gas leases. 

 NFS P.L. 96-470 30 U.S.C. 

226, 601-602, 

and 611 

Multiple-Use 

Sustained-Yield Act 

of 1960 

Provides that forest lands are to 

be administered for outdoor 

recreation, range, timber, 

watershed, wildlife, and fish. 

Authorized and directed the 

development and 

administration of the renewable 

surface resources of the 

National Forests for multiple 

use and sustained yield of the 

 NFS P.L. 86-517 16 U.S.C. 528 

-531 
86 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date (if 

applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

several products and services 

obtained there from. 

Mutually Beneficial 

Agreements 

Authority for the Forest 

Service to enter in to mutually 

beneficial agreements with 

public or private agencies, 

organizations, institutions, or 

persons. 

 ALL P.L. 111-11, 

sec. 3001 

16 U.S.C. 

1011; 16 

U.S.C. 565a-1 

Forest and 

Rangeland 

Renewable Resources 

Planning Act of 1976 

as amended by the 

National Forest 

Management Act 

(NFMA) of 1976 

Requires that the Forest 

Service prepare and revise land 

management plans (LMP) for 

national forests to provide for 

multiple use and sustained 

yield of the products and 

services obtained from the 

forest. Directs the Secretary to 

develop regulations to set out 

the process for the 

development and revision of 

land management plans. 

 NFS P.L. 94-588 16 U.S.C. 

472a, 1061 et 

seq. 

National Forest Ski 

Area Permit Act of 

1986 

Authorizes the issuance of 

permits for use and occupancy 

of suitable lands within the 

National Forest System for 

construction and maintenance 

of buildings, structures, and 

other facilities for hotels, 

resorts, summer homes, stores, 

industrial or commercial 

purposes, education or other 

public use, alpine and Nordic 

skiing operations, and so forth. 

 NFS P.L. 99-522 16 U.S.C. 497 

and 497b 

Organic 

Administration Act of 

1897 

Authorizes the administration, 

protection, and management of 

the National Forests, for the 

purposes of improving and 

protecting the forest, securing 

favorable conditions of water 

flows, and to furnish a 

continuous supply of timber for 

the use and necessities of 

citizens of the United States. 

The Act also directs the 

Secretary of Agriculture to 

protect National Forests against 

destruction by fire and 

depredations. 

 NFS, 

WFM 

 16 U.S.C. 

473-478, 479-

482, and 551 

Pipelines Act of 1920, 

Mineral Leasing Act 

Rights-of-way through any 

Federal lands may be granted 

by the Secretary of the Interior 

or appropriate agency head for 

pipeline purposes for the 

transportation of oil, natural 

 NFS P.L. 66-146 30 U.S.C. 185 
87 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date (if 

applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

gas, synthetic liquid or gaseous 

fuels, or any refined product. 

Service First Establish a program for federal 

land management agencies to 

conduct projects, planning, 

permitting, leasing, contracting 

and other activities, either 

jointly or on behalf of one 

another. 

 ALL P.L. 106-

291; P.L. 

109-54; P.L. 

111-8; P.L. 

112-74 

43 U.S.C. 

1703: 

43 U.S.C. 

1701 note 

Cooperative Law 

Enforcement 

Authorizes cooperation with 

States and political 

subdivisions in enforcement of 

State and local laws on 

National Forest System lands, 

and reimbursement of States 

and political subdivisions for 

expenditures incurred in such 

activities. 

 NFS, SPF 85 Stat. 303 16 U.S.C. 

551a 

Small Tracts Act of 

January 12, 1983 

This Act authorizes the sale, 

exchange, or interchange of 

National Forest System lands 

of forty acres or less and of 

$150,000 or less in value. 

 NFS P.L. 97-465 16 U.S.C. 

521d 

U.S. Mining Laws Act 

of May 10, 1872 

This Act governs mining 

activities for valuable minerals 

on public domain lands. 

 ALL 30 U.S.C. 22 

and 28 

Weeks Act of 1911 Sections 1 and 2 authorize land 

acquisition for watershed 

protection and timber 

production. One of the primary 

authorities for land acquisition 

with Land and Water 

Conservation Fund moneys. 

 NFS P.L. 61-435 16 U.S.C. 

516, 521b 

Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act of 1968 

Sections 6 and 16 authorize 

land acquisition, exchange, and 

donation of land for inclusion 

in the Wild and Scenic River 

System. 

 NFS P.L. 90–542 16 U.S.C. 

1277 

Wilderness Act of 

1964 

Sections 5 and 6 provide 

authority for acquisition, 

exchange, and donation of land 

for inclusion in the Wilderness 

System. 

 NFS P.L. 88-577 16 U.S.C. 

1131-1136 

 
88 

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89 

Capital Improvement and Maintenance 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes 

(Including transfers of funds) 

1 

2 

For necessary expenses of the Forest Service, not otherwise provided for, 

[$361,542,000]$94,708,000, to remain available [until expended]through September 30, 2022, for 

construction, capital improvement, maintenance and acquisition of buildings and other facilities and 

infrastructure; and for construction, reconstruction[,] and maintenance of forest roads and trails, and for 

decommissioning of roads that are no longer needed, including unauthorized roads that are not part of the 

transportation system, [and maintenance of forest roads and trails by the Forest Service]as authorized by 

16 U.S.C. 532–538 and 23 U.S.C. 101 and 205: Provided, That funds becoming available in fiscal year 

[2018]2019 under the Act of March 4, 1913 (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be transferred to the General Fund of 

the Treasury and shall not be available for transfer or obligation for any other purpose unless the funds 

are appropriated. 

The first and second changes move language for readability. 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $94,708,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 361,542,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. -266,834,000

 
90 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Appropriations:

Facilities................................................................................. $62,273 307 $50,106 292 $55,746 292 -$46,917 -151 $8,829 141 

Roads..................................................................................... 977 137,950 137,218 966 137,903 966 -81,361 -350 56,542 616 

Trails....................................................................................... 55,244 583 52,932 559 54,266 559 -44,722 -288 9,544 271 

Deferred Maintenance & Infrastructure Improvement... 3,142 1 -90 - - - - - - - 

Legacy Roads and Trails..................................................... 22,168 77 22,164 75 34,786 75 -34,786 -75 - - 

Capital Improvement and Maintenance - Other a/ ......... 81,024 85,990 - 78,842 - -59,049 - 19,793 - 

Total Adjusted Approp.......................................................... 366,767 1,945 343,354 1,892 361,542 1,892 -266,834 -864 94,708 1,028

Rescissions, Transfers, and Seq. (Net)................................ -2,603 - 20,660 - - - - - - -

Total Appropriation............................................................. 364,164 1,945 364,014 1,892 361,542 1,892 -266,834 -864 94,708 1,028

Transfers In:

Fire Transfer Repayment..................................................... 17,600 - - - - - - - - - 

Total.................................................................................... 17,600 - - - - - - - - -

Transfers Out:

IRR - Legacy Roads and Trails........................................... -14,743 - -14,743 - - - - - - -

Fire Transfer.......................................................................... - - -5,917 - - - - - - -

National Telecommunications and Information 

Administration -254 - - - - - - - - -

Total.................................................................................... -14,997 -20,660 - - - - - -

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. 13,547 - 11,912 - 2,420 - +9,828 - 12,248 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... 7,060 - 12,830 - 12,830 - -12,830 - - -

Total Available..................................................................... 387,374 1,945 368,096 1,892 376,792 1,892 -269,836 -864 106,956 1,028

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. -11,912 - -2,420 - -12,248 - +11,000 - -1,248 -

Total Obligations..................................................................... 375,462 1,945 365,676 1,892 364,544 1,892 -258,836 -864 105,708 1,028

Notes:

a/ Other includes cost pool authority

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
91 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Obligations:

Facilities................................................................................. $59,979 307 $59,546 292 $56,746 292 -$45,001 -151 $11,745 141 

Roads..................................................................................... 144,907 977 141,508 966 137,904 966 -76,561 -350 61,343 616 

Trails....................................................................................... 56,860 583 55,500 559 54,267 559 -43,884 -288 10,383 271 

Deferred Maintenance & Infrastructure Improvement... 3,137 1 35 - - - - - - - 

Legacy Roads and Trails..................................................... 24,157 77 25,191 75 35,786 75 -35,786 -75 - - 

Capital Improvement and Maintenance - Other a/.......... 86,422 - 83,896 - 79,842 - -57,604 - 22,238 - 

Total Obligations.................................................................. 375,462 1,945 365,676 1,892 364,544 1,892 -258,836 -864 105,708 1,028

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. 11,912 - 2,420 - 12,248 - -11,000 - 1,248 - 

Total Available..................................................................... 387,373 1,945 368,096 1,892 376,792 1,892 -269,836 -864 106,956 1,028

Transfers In.............................................................................. -17,600 - - - - - - - - 

Transfers Out........................................................................... 14,997 20,660 - - - - - - - 

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. -13,547 - -11,912 - -2,420 - -9,828 - -12,248 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... -7,060 - -12,830 - -12,830 - +12,830 - - - 

Total Appropriation............................................................. 364,164 1,945 364,014 1,892 361,542 1,892 -266,834 -864 94,708 1,028

Notes:

a/ Other includes cost pool spending

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
92 

Justifications 

Four Year Summary of Appropriations and Staff Years 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Facilities 

(1) A decrease of $59,743,000 and 151 staff years ($70,905,000 and 292 staff years in 2018). 

The Facilities program funds the operation of recreational, research, and administrative facilities necessary to ensure 

the productive and sustainable use of the national forests and grasslands. This program provides the largest number 

and widest range of accessible recreation facilities in the country, including campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor 

centers, target ranges, and observation sites. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 The Facilities program addresses maintenance, capital improvement, and management of almost 40,000 

buildings, 9,543 water/wastewater systems, almost 28,000 recreation sites, and more than 460 Forest 

Service-owned dams. 

 Currently there is a $1.15 billion deferred maintenance backlog for buildings. 

 Volunteers, concessionaires, and other partners are engaged to enhance recreation experiences and help 

maintain nearly 70 percent of recreation sites. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objectives to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities and Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive. 

The Facilities program provides the infrastructure enabling the agency to conduct active resource and land 

management activities, perform research, and support recreational amenities to serve the public. 

Forest Service recreation attracts approximately 149 million visitors annually. With the high demand and interest in 

outdoor recreation, the agency is improving access to facilities for everyone, including seniors, families, and the 

estimated 57 million Americans with disabilities. While providing safe and sustainable facilities, the program 

manages facilities efficiently and effectively. 

Base funds will be used to support 141 staff years to maintain infrastructure and address sites with the highest risk to 

public safety, health, and environment. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $59,743,000 for the administration of facilities. 

At this funding level, the Forest Service will address the highest priority health and safety issues and 

perform the highest priority maintenance. The agency will not pursue major facilities projects or reduce the 

deferred maintenance backlog, and some facilities may have access restricted due to unaddressed safety 

issues. 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities $71,390 307 $71,390 292 $70,905 292 -$59,743 (1) -151 $11,162 141 

Roads 172,094 977 175,094 966 173,905 966 -102,424 (2) -350 71,481 616 

Trails 77,530 583 77,530 559 77,004 559 -64,939 (3) -288 12,065 271 

Deferred Maintenance and Infrastructure 

Improvement 3,150 1 - - - - - - - - 

Legacy Roads and Trails 40,000 77 40,000 75 39,728 75 -39,728 (4) -75 - - 

Capital Improvement & Maintenance 

Total 364,164 1,945 364,014 1,892 361,542 1,892 -266,834 -864 94,708 1,028

Program

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
93 

Roads 

(2) A decrease of $102,424,000 and 350 staff years ($173,905,000 and 966 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for the Roads program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands for 

many purposes, including hunting, fishing, and hiking, use by first responders in emergencies, timber harvests, and 

access to rural communities. The Roads program is essential for the management, protection, public use, and 

enjoyment of 193 million acres of National Forest System lands, as well as for meeting the timber goal of 3.7 billion 

board feet. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 The Forest Service road network includes over 370,000 miles of road and 6,200 bridges. 

 Roads and bridges comprise over $3 billion of the agency’s $5.5 billion deferred maintenance backlog. 

 Access to National Forest System lands supports jobs and local economies dependent on the agency’s 

restoration program outputs. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objectives to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities and Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive. 

The Roads program is a key part of the agency’s restoration work that also includes Forest Products, Hazardous 

Fuels, Vegetation and Watershed, and Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat. Together, these programs efficiently create 

healthy, resilient landscapes and communities that support key mission goals. 

Base funds will be used to support 616 staff years to maintain the national forest and grasslands transportation 

system that complies with applicable regulations and codes for the benefit of all users. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $102,424,000 for operations and maintenance of existing roads and reconstruction of 

existing roads. 

At this funding level, the agency will maintain priority passenger roads and priority high clearance roads to 

maximize safety, access, and efficiency. Some roads may have access restricted due to unaddressed safety 

or maintenance issues. 

Trails 

(3) A decrease of $64,939,000 and 288 staff years ($77,004,000 and 559 staff years in 2018). 

Trails ensure productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands by local communities and millions of 

hikers, hunters, fishermen, and other visitors annually. The Forest Service is the lead agency responsible for trailwide coordination, and the administration of six National Scenic and Historic Trails. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 The trail system contributes to the $10.3 billion of Gross Domestic Product and 143,000 full-time and parttime jobs supported annually by the Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness program. 

 The National Forest System trail system has over 158,000 miles of trails, including over 32,000 miles in 

designated wilderness areas, and serves more than 50 million hikers annually. 

 Trails and trail bridges represent nearly $300 million of the agency’s $5.5 billion deferred maintenance 

backlog. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objectives to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities and Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive. 

The benefits to rural communities from visitors to National Forest System lands who are using trails continue long 

after visitors leave the forest. Visitors spend money in rural communities on everything from lodging to restaurants. 
94 

Base funds will be used to support 271 staff years to maintain a sustainable trail system that is well-designed and 

well-constructed and that supports communities. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $64,939,000 for the maintenance of the Forest Service’s extensive trail system. 

At the requested funding level, the agency will focus on maintaining priority trail facilities and a staff level 

to provide for public safety. The agency will reduce work to implement recommendations in the National 

Forest System Trail Stewardship Act of 2016 and the agency’s 2017 National Trail Strategy. Some trails 

may have access restricted due to unaddressed safety or maintenance issues. 

Legacy Roads and Trails 

(4) A decrease of $39,728,000 and 75 staff years ($39,728,000 and 75 staff years in 2018). 

The Legacy Roads and Trails program decommissions, repairs, or upgrades deficient roads and trails to mitigate 

detrimental impacts to sensitive ecosystems and watersheds. 

Elimination of the program is proposed because the agency can accomplish the work of Legacy Roads and Trails 

within the existing Roads and Trails programs. 

 
95 

Classification by Objects 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Personnel Compensation:

11.0 Total personnel compensation..................................... $126,916 $124,147 $123,458 $67,080

12.0 Personnel benefits.......................................................... 47,594 48,163 46,297 25,155

13.0 Benefits for former personnel........................................ 2,975 2,036 2,894 1,572

Total, personnel comp. and benefits......................... 177,485 174,346 172,649 93,807

Other Objects:

21.0 Travel and transportation of persons.......................... 6,941 4,775 4,789 297

22.0 Transportation of things................................................ 1,983 2,343 2,350 146

23.1 Rent payments to GSA................................................... 2,975 2,779 2,787 173

23.2 Rental payments to others............................................. 3,966 4,287 4,300 267

23.3 Communications, utilities, and misc. charges............. 6,941 6,261 6,279 389

24.0 Printing and reproduction.............................................. 493 469 470 29

25.1 Advisory and assistance services............................... 143 43 43 3

25.2 Other Services................................................................. 84,279 82,418 82,661 5,127

25.3 Purchases of goods and services................................. 51,560 45,840 45,975 2,851

25.4 Operation and maintenance of facilities...................... 5,949 3,540 3,550 220

25.5 Research and development contracts.......................... 992 37 37 2

25.6 Medical care..................................................................... 26 18 18 1

25.7 Operation and maintenance of equipment.................. 1,983 4,086 4,098 254

26.0 Supplies and materials.................................................... 7,932 9,161 9,188 570

31.0 Equipment........................................................................ 3,966 4,429 4,442 275

32.0 Land and Structures....................................................... 2,975 5,708 5,725 355

41.0 Grants................................................................................ 14,873 15,078 15,125 938

42.0 Insurance Claims and Indemnities................................ 0 58 58 4

Total , Other Objects................................................... 197,977 191,330 191,895 11,901

99.9 Total, new obligations.............................................. 375,462 365,676 364,544 105,708

$48 $45 $43 $43

Position Data:

Average Salary (dollars), ES positions........................ $173,583 $176,858 $180,219 $180,219

Average Salary (dollars), GS positions........................ $61,776 $65,406 $66,649 $66,649

Average Grade, GS positions........................................ 9.2 9.2 9.3 9.3

DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3)...............
96 

Status of Programs 

The Capital Improvement and Maintenance appropriation supports several programs designed to maintain and 

manage infrastructure on Forest Service lands, including Facilities, Roads, and Trails. The agency’s assets include 

157,348 miles of trails; 371,581 miles of roads; 27,849 recreation facilities; 39,826 buildings, fire and aviation 

infrastructure; 13,006 road and trail bridges; 4,779 drinking water systems; 4,764 wastewater systems; and 460 

agency owned dams. The agency provides public access to national forests for enjoyment, recreation, and education, 

as well as facilities for forest research, and infrastructure for businesses and industries. The agency’s priority is to 

provide safe and healthy environments that comply with applicable regulations and codes for the benefit of all users. 

The following programs within the Forest Service support, manage, and expand infrastructure. 

Facilities 

Current Activities: 

The Facilities program funds the operation of recreational, research, and administrative facilities necessary to ensure 

the productive and sustainable use of national forests and grasslands. This program provides the largest number and 

widest range of accessible recreation facilities in the country, including campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor centers, 

target ranges, and observation sites. The program also funds significant infrastructure for fire suppression, including 

fire and aircraft operations and maintenance facilities, bases and runways, fire cache warehouses, and fire lookouts. 

Facilities managed by the agency include administrative offices, dams, warehouses, bunkhouses, housing, fleet 

management, and maintenance buildings. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Implementing the National Asset Management Strategy. This strategy will include: (1) a rolling five-year 

capital investment plan, (2) a national asset priority index, and (3) upgrades to facilities data management 

processes to improve data quality, sustainability, and accuracy. 

 Dam Safety. The agency is improving oversight and compliance of Forest Service owned dams according 

to the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety. This program will prioritize the methodology of risk assessment 

according to the guidelines, which is based on reducing risks to the public and agency liability. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Safety management for agency-owned communication towers: The Forest Service negotiated an interagency 

agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to perform structural safety inspections for all communications 

towers within the next five years. The agreement will greatly improve compliance with Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration, and American National Standards Institute requirements for periodic safety inspections. The 

agency owns, operates, and maintains more than 1,700 communications assets Nationwide. The expectation is that 

all agency communications assets will be in compliance by 2022. 

Increasing community safety around Spirit Lake: The Forest Service spent approximately $2.3 million in FY 2017 to 

address the safety of downstream communities along the Toutle, Cowlitz, and Columbia Rivers in Washington 

State; worked in coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies; and prepared Interim Risk Reduction 

Measures for the Spirit Lake outlet. The agency completed a hydrologic study and channel debris mitigation design 

with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while continuing to fund a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, 

and Medicine study to identify resilient and sustainable long-term outflow options for continued public safety. 

Increasing community safety around dams: The Forest Service removed Elderberry and Ice Plant dams from the 

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada. This restored watershed function, eliminated approximately 

$145,000 in deferred maintenance costs, reduced annual operating expenses, and mitigated high-risk hazards to 

public safety. 

Roads 

Current Activities: 

The Roads program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands for many purposes, 

including hunting, fishing, and hiking, use by first responders in emergencies, timber harvests, and access for rural 
97 

communities. The Roads program is essential for the management, protection, public use, and enjoyment of 193 

million acres of National Forest System lands, as well as meeting the FY 2019 timber goal of 3.7 billion board feet. 

Specific focus areas currently include: 

 Comprehensive bridge construction and inspection programs to improve bridge quality. This ensures public 

safety, adequate access, and resource protection. 

 Development of a multi-year maintenance and capital improvement strategy, including multi-year road and 

bridge program project lists. This will efficiently leverage many funding sources to improve the overall 

condition of Forest Service transportation assets. 

 Maintaining the quality of our roads. This provides safe access to recreation, restoration, timber harvest, 

and other areas while protecting water quality and natural resources. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Bridge safety and management: We have completed about 2,500 Bridge Load Ratings (determining safe load 

capacity) in the past few years on Forest Service bridges. This helps us better manage our restoration and 

construction activities, and provides the information needed for authorizing overloaded vehicles to use bridges. We 

are prioritizing evaluating those bridges that require weight restrictions or repairs. In several instances, strengthening 

high priority bridges has increased their load-bearing capacity, allowing us to remove weight restrictions and better 

manage timber harvests. Forest Service bridge inspectors are required to be National Bridge Inspection Standardsqualified, and the agency is implementing training and program reviews to ensure consistency in procedures and 

methods. The program’s priorities include creating a national bridge inspection template, and devising national 

training for our bridge inspection engineers. 

Partner collaboration: The agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) reaffirming the continued collaboration between the two agencies to leverage funding from 

the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. This funding is for Federal roads and bridges that provide 

access to high-use recreation sites and economic generators. The Forest Service and FHWA work together to 

enhance road safety management, develop long range transportation planning, and collect road condition surveys 

across the Federal Lands Transportation Program transportation network. 

Recreation and resource management: The program has focused on restoring watersheds and enhancing forest 

resilience by modifying culverts (areas where roads cross over streams). By constructing properly sized culverts, we 

improve passage for aquatic species and increase roads’ resilience to flooding. The completed projects improved 

roadway safety and provided clean water for people and wildlife. The agency continues to implement the Travel 

Management Rule and decommission unneeded roads. 

Trails 

Current Activities: 

The Trails program manages the largest system of trails in the country. Trails ensure productive and sustainable use 

of National Forest System lands by local communities and millions of hikers, hunters, anglers, and other visitors 

annually. Forest Service is the lead agency responsible for trail-wide coordination and administration of six National 

Scenic and Historic Trails. Specific focus areas currently include: 

 Enhancing and sustaining the trail system by improving the operation, maintenance, capital improvement, 

and management needs of 158,769 miles of trail and 13,340 trail bridges. 

 Enhancing the trail system maximizes and supports outdoor recreation and tourism. This program supports 

143,000 jobs and provides access to 84 million people to enjoy National Forest System trails annually. 

 Implementation of the National Strategy for a Sustainable Trail System. This strategy seeks to increase 

collaborative stewardship, volunteers, and community stakeholders to grow and maintain a trail system that 

is both well designed and well maintained. This strategy will continue to serve American citizens by 

connecting them to public lands. 
98 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

National strategy for a sustainable trail system: The Forest Service’s first ever national trail strategy, completed in 

fiscal year 2017, establishes the vision for a sustainable trail system achieved through collaborative stewardship with 

a wide array of public interests, including volunteers, trails groups, Tribes, and local businesses. The strategy 

outlines 26 strategic actions to move the agency forward during the next decade. The strategy directs the Forest 

Service to leverage agency investments with partner resources. The Forest Service is launching a 10-Year 

Sustainable Trail System Challenge in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the National Trail System Act in 

2018. This challenge will guide and track the achievement of trail strategy implementation and outcomes. 

National Forest System trail stewardship grant program: Launched in FY 2017 with $250,000 in agency seed 

funding, this new grant program resulted in over 2,000 miles of trail maintenance, and a leveraged four-fold return 

on investment of over $440,000 in partner cash matches, and $750,000 in in-kind matching contributions of labor, 

materials, and equipment. The Forest Service established this grant program to align with the National Forest 

System Trail Stewardship Act of 2016, and the agency’s National Trail Strategy. 

Program Evaluations: 

In FY 2017, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed and determined that the agency had 

addressed three of the four recommendations identified by GAO in its 2013 report “Forest Service Trails: Longand Short-Term Improvements Could Reduce Maintenance Backlog and Enhance System Sustainability” (GAO-13-

6188

). Recommendations addressed include: 1) analyzing trails program needs versus available resources and 

developing options to address the gap between needs and resources; 2) improving guidance and increasing training 

on sustainable trail designs, including reevaluating trails for long-term sustainability; and 3) improving policies and 

procedures related to the trail maintenance backlog. Closure of these recommendations by GAO was the result of a 

substantial, focused effort by the Forest Service over the past four years. The agency continues its efforts to address 

the fourth recommendation regarding improving the management of volunteers. 

Legacy Roads and Trails 

Current Activities: 

The Legacy Roads and Trails Program (LRT) was authorized and funded by Congress in 2008 to direct work 

towards urgently needed road decommissioning, road and trail repair and maintenance, and removal of fish passage 

barriers. The program emphasizes areas where Forest Service roads, bridges, and trails may be contributing to water 

quality problems in streams and water bodies that support threatened, endangered, and sensitive species or 

community water sources. LRT funds may also fund storm damage recovery efforts, including fixing damage to 

timber haul roads, in support of Forest Service priorities. Specific focus areas being addressed currently include: 

 Forest restoration efforts, which help fill a significant need to decommission roadways, restore areas 

damaged by fires and hurricanes, and improve sensitive aquatic ecosystems. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Trout Creek, Mendocino National Forest: Legacy Roads and Trails funding was used to fix two undersized culverts 

at a Forest Service road stream crossing. These culverts had rusted out and failed, blocking aquatic species passage, 

threatening to increase downstream water pollution, and risking erosion and potential roadway collapse. Legacy 

Roads and Trails funds enabled the Forest Service to remove the failed culverts and replace them with a larger, 

open-bottom arch. The resulting stream crossing allows greater floodwater and debris flows, protects the road, and 

accommodates aquatic species passage. 

Decommissioning roads, Clearwater National Forest: This project, involving $212,000 from the Nez Perce Indian 

Tribe and the North Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee, leveraged $50,000 in Legacy Roads and Trails 

funds to decommission approximately 33 miles of unneeded roads and improve resource quality. The project 

restored much of the original road grade, improved the stability of the stream to resist flooding, and restored native 

 

8 The GAO report, recommendations and completion status are posted at: https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-618
99 

vegetation. A wide range of other partners were involved, including Idaho Transportation Department, Bonneville 

Power administration, Idaho Office of Species Conservation, Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission, National 

Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Forest Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Trout Unlimited. 

Primary Authorities 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date 

(if applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

Department of 

Agriculture Grants 

and Powers Act of 

1965 

Authorizes the erection of 

buildings and other structures 

on non-federal land, with longterm lease and right-to-remove, 

and authorizes the use of 

appropriations for expenses 

necessary to acquire long-term 

lease. Provides authority for 

long-term leases on non-federal 

land and building structures on 

non-federal land, if a long-term 

lease on the land is obtained. 

 ALL P.L. 110-

246; P.L. 89-

106 

7 U.S.C. 450i; 

7 U.S.C. 2250a 

Department of 

Agriculture Organic 

Act of 1944 

Authorizes the erection, 

alteration, and repair of 

buildings and other 

improvements on Federal land 

that are necessary to conduct 

authorized work, provided 

provision is made in applicable 

appropriations. 

 CIM P.L. 78-425 7 U.S.C. 2250 

Federal Highway 

Act 

Establishes the Federal 

Highway Trust Fund managed 

by the Department of 

Transportation. Federal 

highway construction, 

maintenance, and other projects 

defined in the Act are financed 

from the Federal Highway 

Trust Fund. The Department of 

Transportation transfers these 

monies to the Forest Service 

for highway projects pertinent 

to National Forest System 

lands. 

 CIM P.L. 85-767 23 U.S.C. 120, 

125, 205 

Forest Service 

Facility Realignment 

and Enhancement 

Act (FSFREA) 

Provided authority to convey 

unneeded administrative sites 

and retain the proceeds for 

building maintenance, 

rehabilitation, and construction. 

09/30/2016 NFS P.L. 109-54; 

P.L. 111-8; 

P.L. 112-74 

16 U.S.C. 580d 

note 

National Forest 

Roads and Trails Act 

of 1964 

This Act authorizes the 

acquisition, construction, and 

maintenance of National Forest 

System roads and trails. Also 

authorizes the construction of 

roads using cooperative 

financing from other agencies. 

 CIM P.L. 88-657 16 U.S.C. 532-

538 

National Trails 

System Act of 1968 

Sections 7 and 10 authorize the 

acquisition, exchange, and 

donation of land for the 

 CIM P.L. 90–543 16 U.S.C. 

1241-1251 
100 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date 

(if applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

National Trails System and for 

development, management, and 

volunteer assistance on the 

system. 

Service First The Secretaries of the Interior 

and Agriculture, subject to 

annual review of Congress, 

may establish pilot programs 

involving the land management 

agencies referred to in this 

section to conduct projects, 

planning, permitting, leasing, 

contracting and other activities, 

either jointly or on behalf of 

one another. 

 ALL P.L. 106-

291; P.L. 

109-54; P.L. 

111-8; P.L. 

112-74 

43 U.S.C. 

1703: 

43 U.S.C. 1701 

note 

 
101 

Land Acquisition 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes 

1 

2 

[For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of chapter 2003 of title 54, United States 

Code, including administrative expenses, and for acquisition of land or waters, or interest therein, in 

accordance with statutory authority applicable to the Forest Service, $7,000,000, to be derived from the 

Land and Water Conservation Fund and to remain available until expended.]Of the unobligated balances 

available under this heading that were derived from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, $17,000,000 

are hereby permanently cancelled. 

The first change proposes elimination of funding for the Land Acquisition program. 

The second change proposes cancellation of unobligated balances. 

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests Special Acts 

For acquisition of lands within the exterior boundaries of the Cache, Uinta, and Wasatch National 

Forests, Utah; the Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada; the Angeles, San Bernardino, Sequoia, and 

Cleveland National Forests, California; and the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests, Arkansas, as 

authorized by law, [$944,000]$700,000, to be derived from forest receipts. 

No language changes are proposed. 

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges 

For acquisition of lands, such sums, to be derived from funds deposited by State, county, or 

municipal governments, public school districts, or other public school authorities, and for authorized 

expenditures from funds deposited by non-Federal parties pursuant to Land Sale and Exchange Acts, 

pursuant to the Act of December 4, 1967 (16 U.S.C. 484a), to remain available [until expended]through 

September 30, 2022 (16 U.S.C. 516–617a, 555a; Public Law 96–586; Public Law 76–589, 76–591; and 

Public Law 78–310). 

No language changes are proposed. 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $850,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 55,204,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. -54,354,000

 
102 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Appropriations:

Land Acquisition.................................................................. $79,616 52 $29,377 60 $54,045 60 -$71,045 -60 -$17,000 - 

Acquisition of Land for National Forests Special Acts. 950 - 950 - 944 - -244 - 700 - 

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges....... - - - - 215 - -65 - 150 - 

Total Adjusted Approp.......................................................... 80,566 52 30,327 60 55,204 60 -71,354 -60 -16,150 -

Rescissions, Transfers, and Seq. (Net)................................ -16,181 - 25,038 - - - +17,000 - 17,000 -

Total Appropriation............................................................. 64,385 52 55,365 60 55,204 60 -54,354 -60 850 -

Transfers In:

Fire Transfer Repayment..................................................... 16,181 - - - - - - - - -

Total.................................................................................... 16,181 - - - - - - - - -

Transfers Out:

Fire Transfer.......................................................................... - -25,038 - - - - - - -

Total.................................................................................... - - -25,038 - - - - - - -

Rescission a/............................................................................ - - - - - - -17,000 - -17,000 -

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. 4,058 - 33,924 - 21,186 - +2,204 - 23,390 -

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... 910 - 6,304 - - - - - - -

Total Available..................................................................... 85,535 52 70,555 60 76,390 60 -69,150 -60 7,240 -

Lapsing Balances.................................................................... -26 - -373 - - - - - - -

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. -33,924 - -21,186 - -23,390 - +17,000 - -6,390 -

Total Obligations..................................................................... 51,585 52 49,369 60 53,000 60 -52,150 - -60 850 - 

a/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
103 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Obligations:

Land Acquisition.................................................................. $51,263 52 $48,519 60 $52,056 60 -$52,056 -60 - - 

Acquisition of Land for National Forests Special Acts. 317 - 850 - 944 - -244 - $700 - 

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges....... 5 - - - - - +150 - 150 - 

Total Obligations.................................................................. 51,585 52 49,369 60 53,000 60 -52,150 -60 850 -

Lapsing Balances.................................................................... 26 - 373 - - - - - - - 

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. 33,924 - 21,186 - 23,390 - -17,000 - 6,390 - 

Total Available..................................................................... 85,535 52 70,555 60 76,390 60 -69,150 - -60 7,240 -

Transfers In.............................................................................. -16,181 - - - - - - - - -

Transfers Out........................................................................... - - 25,038 - - - - - - -

Rescission a/............................................................................ - - - - - - +17,000 - 17,000 -

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. -4,058 - -33,924 - -21,186 - -2,204 - -23,390 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... -910 - -6,304 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation............................................................. 64,385 52 55,365 60 55,204 60 -54,354 -60 850 - 

a/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation 

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
104 

Justifications 

Four Year Summary of Appropriations and Staff Years 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Land Acquisition 

(1) A decrease of $54,045,000 and 60 staff years ($54,045,000 and 60 staff years in 2018). 

The Land Acquisition program funds the acquisition and donation of lands, waters, and related interests within the 

National Forest System to further agency goals for restoration, outdoor recreation and public access, habitat for 

wildlife, and to protect water quality. 

Elimination of the program is proposed because the Forest Service will focus on the maintenance of existing 

National Forest System lands in FY 2019, which currently comprise about 30 percent of the Federal estate. 

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests Special Acts 

(2) A decrease of $244,000 and 0 staff years ($944,000 and 0 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for this program provides for the acquisition of lands to protect watersheds, minimize soil erosion, and 

rehabilitate specified national forests in Nevada, Utah, California, and Arkansas. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Soil conservation enhances the agency’s mission to provide safe drinking water to communities in rural and 

urban areas. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities. Reducing fragmented lands within the National Forest System helps the 

Forest Service reduce management costs; effectively address fire suppression, insect, and disease challenges; and 

preserve historic and legal access to lands. The cost of protecting watersheds, minimizing soil erosion, and 

rehabilitating forests varies depending on the location of the land, the baseline condition of the forest’s health, and 

other factors. 

Base funds will be used to acquire land to protect watersheds, minimize soil erosion, and rehabilitate national 

forests. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $244,000 for land acquisition for national forest special acts. 

This funding level will slightly decrease support for acquiring lands to protect watersheds, minimize soil 

erosion, and rehabilitate specified national forests in Nevada, Utah, California, and Arkansas. 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Land Acquisition $63,435 52 $54,415 60 $54,045 60 -$54,045 (1) -60 - - 

Acquisition of Lands for National 

Forests Special Acts 950 - 950 - 944 - -244 (2) - $700 - 

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land 

Exchanges 216 - 216 - 215 - -65 (3) - 150 - 

Land Acquisition Total 64,601 52 55,581 60 55,204 60 -54,354 -60 850 - 

Program

 2019 President's 

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
105 

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges 

(3) A decrease of $65,000 and 0 staff years ($215,000 and 0 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for this program provides for the acquisition of lands with funds collected from the exchange or sale of 

National Forest System lands with State, county, or municipal governments, public school authorities, or other nonFederal parties, allowed under various authorities. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 By centralizing units of land, the Forest Service can effectively promote the long-term health and 

sustainability of the Nation’s forests and grasslands. 

 Connecting fragmented landscapes increases the public’s access to national forests and enhances 

recreational opportunities while also protecting important wildlife habitat. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objective to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities. Funding will continue to provide for the acquisition of lands with funds 

collected from the exchange or sale of National Forest System lands with State, county, or municipal governments, 

public school authorities, or other non-Federal parties. 

Base funds will be used to acquire land to ensure national forests and private working lands are conserved, restored, 

and more resilient for the benefit of the Nation and the environment. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $65,000 for land adjustments. 

The Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges program will slightly decrease the acquisition of 

lands with funds collected from the exchange or sale of National Forest System lands with State, county, or 

municipal governments, public school authorities, or other non-Federal parties, allowed under various 

authorities. 

 
106 

Classification by Objects 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 
107 

Status of Programs 

The Forest Service Land Acquisition program activities include land exchanges, purchasing lands, accepting land 

donations, and selling land in qualifying situations, such as under the Small Tracts Act (P.L. 97-465). These 

activities are all characterized as land adjustments. Overall, the Forest Service strives to achieve a footprint where 

the agency can effectively maintain and improve land management, public and emergency access, environmental 

conservation, and sustainability of the national forests and grasslands. 

Land Acquisition 

Current Activities: 

The Forest Service utilizes Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965 funding within the boundaries 

of national forests, within Wilderness Areas, and to acquire inholdings. Land acquisitions improve recreational 

access and create efficiencies for priority stewardship activities such as hazardous fuels treatments and watershed 

protection. Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations also support land exchanges by funding cash 

equalization payments and needed staff. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

 Acquisitions completed in 2017 supported new and improved recreational access for a wide array of 

outdoor activities in 21 States (11 eastern States and 10 western States) with an average acreage of 533 

acres. 

 In 2017, the Forest Service completed nine land exchanges and provided cash equalization funding for the 

NorthMet land exchange, a legislated land exchange in Minnesota. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Holland Ranch acquisition, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest: Montana: In 2017, the Forest Service acquired 

the final phase of the Holland Ranch inholding parcel on the Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. 

This 320-acre acquisition was a priority because it contains a quarter mile of the Nez Perce National Historic and 

Scenic Trail and will protect open public access in this area that is immensely popular for fishing and elk hunting. 

The Beaverhead County Commissioners and Governor Bullock supported this acquisition due to the high level of 

recreational demand. They also recognized that public management of this property is important to local agriculture, 

as the tract contains a direct trail route to move livestock to Federal allotments in other locales. Private residential 

development of this parcel would have forced cattle producers to more costly alternatives for moving livestock. By 

acquiring the parcel, the Forest Service ensures ranchers can continue to use this livestock trail. 

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests Special Acts 

Current Activities: 

The Acquisition of Lands for National Forests Special Acts provides for the acquisition of lands to protect 

watersheds, minimize soil erosion, and rehabilitate specific national forests in Nevada, Utah, California, and 

Arkansas. Specific area being addressed currently include: 

 Acquisition of a single parcel can provide significant large-scale benefits by ensuring watersheds and 

ecosystems remain intact. These tracts can also be the key to significantly increasing the availability of 

existing Federal lands to the public. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Preserving watersheds on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest: The Malan Basin is an example of a tract that 

provides large-scale benefits by ensuring both watershed and public access benefits. The agency allocated funds for 

this tract in FY 2017. This land is part of the municipal watershed for Ogden, Utah. Protecting this watershed is a 

shared priority of the Forest Service and the City of Ogden, as it preserves both the watershed lands and public 

access to trails on those lands. The agency has received a letter of support from the Mayor of Ogden for this 

acquisition. The most popular trail -Waterfall Canyon- has an estimated annual visitation of 250,000 people. By 

acquiring the land, the Forest Service will help manage the trails to reduce adverse impacts to the watershed. 
108 

Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges 

Current Activities: 

The Acquisition of Lands to Complete Land Exchanges provides for the acquisition of lands with funds collected 

from the exchange or sale of the National Forest System lands with States, county, or municipal governments, public 

school authorities, or other non-Federal parties. Specific areas being addressed currently include: 

By connecting fragmented landscapes, the Forest Service can effectively promote the long-term health and 

sustainability of the Nation’s forests and grasslands, provide greater recreation access, and manage lands more 

effectively and efficiently. 

 Connecting fragmented landscapes also enhances restoration and protects watersheds, especially in the 

wildland-urban interface- areas where residential developments are intermingled with undeveloped forests. 

Wildfire can cause economic and ecological losses and can pose threats to people, property, and 

communities. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Conserving public lands adjacent to Gila National Forest: In New Mexico, the agency recently acquired 273 acres 

using these funds. This acquisition will eliminate potential negative impacts associated with residential development 

within national forest boundaries (for example, when private homes are in the forest, it is more difficult to ensure 

public safety, and more costly to fight wildfires). The acquisition will also increase public access to the national 

forest and protect important wildlife habitat while enhancing recreational opportunities. 

Primary Authorities 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

date 

(if applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

USC 

Reference

General Exchange 

Act of 1922 

Authorizes the exchange of lands 

within the boundaries of National 

Forests and cutting of timber in 

National Forests for exchange of 

lands. 

 NFS 42 Stat. 465; 

43 Stat. 

1098 

16 U.S.C. 

485, 486 

Weeks Act Authorizes the purchase land for 

National Forests if the purchase was 

deemed necessary to protect rivers, 

watersheds, and headwaters in the 

eastern United States. 

 NFS 36 Stat. 961 16 U.S.C. 

515 

 
109 

Other Appropriations 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes 

Range Betterment Fund 

For necessary expenses of range rehabilitation, protection, and improvement, 50 percent of all 

moneys received during the prior fiscal year, as fees for grazing domestic livestock on lands in National 

Forests in the 16 Western States, pursuant to section 401(b)(1) of Public Law 94–579, to remain available 

[until expended]through September 30, 2022, of which not to exceed 6 percent shall be available for 

administrative expenses associated with on-the-ground range rehabilitation, protection, and 

improvements. 

No language changes are proposed. 

Gifts, Donations and Bequests for Forest and Rangeland Research 

For expenses authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1643(b), $45,000, to remain available [until expended] 

through September 30, 2022, to be derived from the fund established pursuant to the above Act. 

No language changes are proposed. 

Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses 

For necessary expenses of the Forest Service to manage Federal lands in Alaska for subsistence 

uses under title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (Public Law 96–487), 

[$2,483,000]$1,850,000, to remain available [until expended]through September 30, 2022. 

No language changes are proposed. 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $3,595,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 4,832,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. -1,237,000

 
110 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Appropriations:

Range Betterment Fund a/.................................................. $3,273 6 $4,243 6 $2,304 6 -$604 -1 $1,700 5 

Gifts, Donations, & Bequest for Forest & Rangeland 

Research a/..................................................... - - 10 - 45 - - - 45 - 

Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence 

Uses ........................................................... 12 2,500 2,500 13 2,483 13 -633 -2 1,850 11 

Total Adjusted Approp.......................................................... 5,773 18 6,753 19 4,832 19 -1,237 -3 3,595 16

Total Appropriation............................................................. 5,773 18 6,753 19 4,832 19 -1,237 -3 3,595 16

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. 1,123 - 1,469 - 2,252 - - - 2,252 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... 117 - 63 - - - - - - -

Total Available..................................................................... 7,013 18 8,285 19 7,084 19 - - 5,847 16

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. -1,469 - -2,252 - -2,252 - - - -2,252 -

Total Obligations..................................................................... 5,544 18 6,033 19 4,832 19 -1,237 -3 3,595 16

a/ FY 2016 and FY 2017 actual appropriations are determined by collections, so they do not match enacted levels in appropriations bill which are estimates

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount Amount SYs

Discretionary Obligations:

Range Betterment Fund....................................................... $3,029 6 $3,435 6 2,304 6 -$604 -1 $1,700 5 

Gifts, Donations, & Bequest for Forest & Rangeland 

Research ....................................................... - - - - 45 - - - 45 - 

Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence 

Uses ........................................................... 2,515 12 2,598 13 2,483 13 -633 -2 1,850 11 

Total Obligations.................................................................. 5,544 18 6,033 19 4,832 19 -1,237 -3 3,595 16

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. 1,469 - 2,252 - 2,252 - - - 2,252 - 

Total Available..................................................................... 7,013 18 8,285 19 7,084 19 -1,237 -3 5,847 16

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. -1,123 - -1,469 - -2,252 - - - -2,252 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... -117 - -63 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation............................................................. 5,773 18 6,753 19 4,832 19 -1,237 -3 3,595 16

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
111 

Justifications 

Four Year Summary of Appropriations and Staff Years 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Range Betterment Fund 

(1) A decrease of $604,000 and 1 staff year ($2,304,000 and 6 staff years in 2018). 

Base funding for this program allocates one-half of grazing receipts from National Forest System lands in 16 

western States to rehabilitate, protect, and improve rangelands on the National Forest System lands from which the 

receipts were collected. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 In rural areas, grazing activities contribute over 14,000 jobs and $706 million to the Nation’s economy each 

year. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objectives to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities and Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive. 

This program supports the economic activities associated with the Grazing Management program and complements 

the work done with appropriated funds, but at a limited scale commensurate with the funding available from grazing 

receipts. 

Base funds will be used to support five staff years to construct and improve structures vital to grazing activities.. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $604,000 for the construction and improvement of grazing structures. 

The Forest Service will continue to prioritize the use of available funds to construct and improve structures, 

such as fencing, to manage the movement of animals and enhance rangeland health. 

Gifts, Donations, and Bequest for Forest & Rangeland Research 

(2) The funding level is maintained ($45,000 and 0 staff years in 2018). 

This special account serves for acceptance of gifts, donations, and bequests for deposit that are used to establish or 

operate any forest and rangeland research facility. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Gifts or donations received from outside sources, such as individuals and businesses, can be used to 

establish or operate a research facility. 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Range Betterment Fund $2,320 6 $2,320 6 $2,304 6 -$604 (1) -1 $1,700 5 

Gifts, Donations, & Bequest for Forest & 

Rangeland Research 45 - 45 - 45 - - - 45 - 

Management of National Forest Lands 

for Subsistence Uses 2,500 12 2,500 13 2,483 13 -633 (2) -2 1,850 11 

Other Appropriations Total 4,865 18 4,865 19 4,832 19 -1,237 -3 3,595 16

Program

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
112 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Objective to Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and 

Productive. The Forest Service will continue to receive donations from individuals and businesses for research work 

units and other sub-units to further their research and development programs. 

The funds are used to purchase supplies and equipment, and for travel to training and seminars. 

Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Use 

(3) A decrease of $633,000 and 2 staff years ($2,483,000 and 13 staff years in 2018). 

Base funds for the program will provide rural Alaskan residents a subsistence priority to harvest fish and wildlife on 

Federal lands over sport and commercial uses. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 The Subsistence program provides vital employment in remote rural areas, keeps fish and wildlife harvests 

sustainable, enforces regulations, and educates subsistence users. 

Base funding supports USDA’s Strategic objectives to Contribute to the Economic Health of Rural Communities 

through Use and Access Opportunities and Ensure Lands and Watersheds are Sustainable, Healthy, and Productive. 

Alaska is the only State in which Federal agencies have a direct hand in managing the harvest of fish and resident 

wildlife populations on Federal lands. Program staff consult with Tribes and Native Corporations on the subsistence 

program, monitor fisheries, and directly contract with Tribal governments to support this work. 

Base funding will be used to support 11 staff years to provide employment in isolated rural communities, educate 

subsistence users, develop and enforce regulations, and monitor fish and wildlife populations 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $633,000 for analyzing and implementing special actions to address immediate 

conservation and subsistence use issues. 

At this funding level, the Forest Service will slightly decrease its ability to complete regular-cycle 

management analyses to determine current population and appropriate harvest levels for fish and wildlife 

species, and to determine appropriate management actions to provide for subsistence uses on the national 

forests in Alaska. 

 
113 

Classification by Objects 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Personnel Compensation:

11.0 Total personnel compensation..................................... $852 $1,326 $1,326 $1,117

12.0 Personnel benefits.......................................................... 852 519 519 437

13.0 Benefits for former personnel........................................ 3 1 1 1

Total, personnel comp. and benefits......................... 1,707 1,846 1,846 1,555

Other Objects:

21.0 Travel and transportation of persons.......................... 255 95 68 46

22.0 Transportation of things................................................ 7 8 6 4

23.1 Rent payments to GSA................................................... 57 1 1 0

23.2 Rental payments to others............................................. 57 0 0 0

23.3 Communications, utilities, and misc. charges............. 107 16 11 8

24.0 Printing and reproduction.............................................. 7 3 2 1

25.2 Other Services................................................................. 852 1,512 1,078 737

25.3 Purchases of goods and services................................. 609 178 127 87

25.4 Operation and maintenance of facilities...................... 3 0 0 0

25.7 Operation and maintenance of equipment.................. 7 8 6 4

26.0 Supplies and materials.................................................... 1,703 1,904 1,358 928

31.0 Equipment........................................................................ 133 160 114 78

32.0 Land and Structures....................................................... 2 14 10 7

41.0 Grants................................................................................ 38 288 205 140

Total , Other Objects................................................... 3,837 4,187 2,986 2,040

99.9 Total, new obligations.............................................. 5,544 6,033 4,832 3,595

$0 $0 $0 $0

Position Data:

Average Salary (dollars), ES positions........................ $0 $0 $0 $0

Average Salary (dollars), GS positions........................ $65,333 $68,734 $70,040 $70,040

Average Grade, GS positions........................................ 9.2 9.5 9.6 9.6

DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3)...............
114 

Status of Programs 

Other Appropriations has three major programs, including Range Betterment Fund; Gifts, Donations and Bequests 

for Forest and Rangeland Research; and Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Use. The primary 

purpose of these three distinctive programs is to provide maximum benefits to the public through proper 

management and use of natural resources in the Nation’s forests and rangelands. 

Range Betterment Fund 

Current Activities: 

This program allocates one-half of grazing receipts from National Forest System lands in 16 western States to 

rehabilitate, protect, and improve rangelands on the National Forest System lands from which the receipts were 

collected. Specific focus areas currently include: 

 Providing proper range management, including constructing and improving structures such as fences and 

livestock watering facilities, which are essential to grazing permittees for effective livestock management. 

 Managing vegetation to foster healthy, resilient rangeland ecosystems by removing invasive plants and 

reducing fire risk. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Rangeland vegetation improvement efforts in FY 2017: The work accomplished with the Range Betterment Fund is 

important to maintain rangeland health, water quality, and soil health. Non-structural rangeland improvement 

activities, such as removing noxious weeds and invasive plants and controlling brush, reduce fire risk on rangelands 

by limiting plant densities and/or by changing species composition. In FY 2017, we conducted over 90,000 acres of 

rangeland vegetation improvement work, and treated over 1,000 acres of noxious weeds. 

Gifts, Donations and Bequests for Forest and Rangeland Research 

Current Activities: 

Gifts, Donations and Bequests for Forest and Rangeland Research is a special account that holds gifts, donations, 

and bequests that are used to establish or operate any forest and rangeland research facility. The Forest Service 

continue to receive donations from individuals and businesses for research work units and other organizational subunits to further their research and development programs. 

Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Use 

Current Activities: 

This program provides rural Alaskan residents a subsistence priority to harvest fish and wildlife over sport and 

commercial uses on Federal lands. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 

3101) provides this authority. ANILCA envisioned that the State of Alaska would manage this rural priority, as was 

the case for 10 years. However, the statute was found to conflict with the Alaska State Constitution, which prohibits 

granting subsistence priority to only rural residents. As a result, the Federal government assumed responsibility for 

subsistence management on Federal public lands in 1990. Specific focus areas currently include: 

 Examining the annual harvest levels of fish and wildlife population to provide a reliable food supply for 

rural Alaska communities. 

 Hiring local residents to monitor and collect fish and wildlife population data thereby; providing vital 

employment in isolated Tribal communities where opportunities are severely limited. 

 Identifying conservation issues through effectively evaluating rule promulgation for harvesting fish and 

wildlife. Regulation is essential to maintaining sustainable populations of fish and game. 
115 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Strengthening collaboration with Tribes: The Forest Service continues to expand tribal consultation on all facets of 

the Federal subsistence program, including annual rulemaking, with all Alaska Tribes and Native Corporations to 

further strengthen relationships and to be respectful of the current and historical role of native Alaskans in managing 

for their customary and traditional subsistence uses. 

Primary Authorities 

Title of the Act or 

Program

Summary of Authority Expiration 

Date 

(if applicable)

Programs 

Affected

Public Law 

Citation

U.S.C. 

Reference

Acquisition of 

Lands, Special Acts, 

Ozark and Ouachita 

National Forest 

Land Exchange 

Provides authority to the 

Secretary of Agriculture to sell 

or exchange all or part of 

certain administrative sites and 

other land in the Ozark-St. 

Francis, Ouachita National 

Forests Nevada, Utah, 

California and Arkansas to use 

funds derived from the sale or 

exchange to acquire, construct, 

or improve administrative sites. 

 NFS P.L. 108-350 

Alaska National 

Interest Lands 

Conservation Act of 

1980 

Authorizes management of 

Federal lands in Alaska for 

subsistence uses of fish and 

wildlife, providing the 

opportunity for rural residents 

to continue their subsistence 

way of life. 

 NFS P.L. 96-487 16 U.S.C. 

3111-3126 

Federal Land Policy 

and Management 

Act of 1976 

Established the Range 

Betterment Fund consisting of 

50 percent of all monies 

received by the United States 

as fees for grazing livestock on 

the National Forests in the 16 

contiguous western States. 

 NFS P.L. 94-579 43 U.S.C. 1751 

Public Rangelands 

Improvement Act of 

1978 

Authorizes the improvement of 

range conditions of the public 

rangelands. Also authorizes the 

allocation of one-half of 

grazing receipts from National 

Forest System lands in the 16 

Western States for rangeland 

rehabilitation, protection, and 

improvements. 

 NFS P.L. 95-514 43 U.S.C. 1901 

Special Acts Authorizes acquisition of land 

within the boundaries of certain 

national forests and, to pay for 

the acquisitions, authorizes the 

appropriation of receipts 

derived from the sale of natural 

resources within the particular 

national forest. 

 NFS 58 Stat. 227; 

58 Stat. 227; 

58 Stat. 228; 

54 Stat. 297; 

54 Stat. 299; 

and 54 Stat. 

402; 58 Stat. 

228; 54 Stat. 

46 

 
116 

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117 

Wildland Fire Management 

Appropriations Language and Explanation of Changes

 (Including transfers of funds) 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

For necessary expenses for forest fire presuppression activities on National Forest System lands, 

for emergency wildland fire suppression on or adjacent to such lands or other lands under fire protection 

agreement, emergency rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest System lands and water, [and for 

State and volunteer fire assistance, [$2,314,793,000]$2,504,986,000, to remain available [until 

expended]through September 30, 2022: Provided, That such funds including unobligated balances under 

this heading, are available for repayment of advances from other appropriations accounts previously 

transferred for such purposes: Provided further, That any unobligated funds appropriated in a previous 

fiscal year for hazardous fuels management may be transferred to the "National Forest System" account: 

Provided further, That such funds shall be available to reimburse State and other cooperating entities for 

services provided in response to wildfire and other emergencies or disasters to the extent such 

reimbursements by the Forest Service for non-fire emergencies are fully repaid by the responsible 

emergency management agency: [Provided further, That of the funds provided, $17,600,000 is for 

research activities and to make competitive research grants pursuant to the Forest and Rangeland 

Renewable Resources Research Act, (16 U.S.C. 1641 et seq.), $69,400,000 is for State fire assistance, 

and $11,600,000 is for volunteer fire assistance under section 10 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 

Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2106): Provided further, That amounts in this paragraph may be transferred to the 

"Forest and Rangeland Research" account to fund forest and rangeland research:] Provided further, That 

the costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the Federal Government and any nonFederal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: [Provided further, That funds 

made available to implement the Community Forest Restoration Act, Public Law 106–393, title VI, shall 

be available for use on non-Federal lands in accordance with authorities made available to the Forest 

Service under the "State and Private Forestry" appropriation:] Provided further, That the Secretary of the 

Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may authorize the transfer of funds appropriated for wildland 

fire management, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000, between the Departments when 

such transfers would facilitate and expedite wildland fire management programs and projects: Provided 

further, That funds designated for wildfire suppression[,] shall be assessed for cost pools on the same 

basis as such assessments are calculated against other agency programs: Provided further, That of the 

amounts appropriated under this heading for acquiring aircraft for the next-generation airtanker fleet in 

title III of division F of Public Law 113-235, $65,000,000 are hereby permanently cancelled. 

For wildfire suppression operations, $1,519,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 

contingent upon enactment of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Authority Act, which amends section 251 of 

the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (BBEDCA) to provide an adjustment to 

the discretionary spending limits for Wildfire Operations, such amount is additional new budget authority 

specified for purposes of section 251(b)(2)(E) of BBEDCA: Provided further, That, contingent upon 

enactment of the Wildfire Disaster Funding Authority Act, amounts are provided under the heading 

“Wildland Fire Management” to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior for 

wildfire suppression operations to meet the terms of section 251(b)(2)(E)(ii)(I)(aa) of BBEDCA: 

Provided further, That amounts appropriated under this heading may be transferred to and merged with 

the “Wildland Fire Management” accounts in the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture for wildfire 

suppression operations pursuant to the conditions and requirements in sections 1(c), (d), and (e) of the 

Wildfire Disaster Funding Authority Act: Provided further, That the President may delegate 

administration, management, and execution of this account to an officer or Department within the 

Executive Branch. 

The first change removes language for programs moved to State and Private Forestry. 

The second change removes language regarding research activities (moved to Forest and Rangeland 

Research) and State and Volunteer Fire Assistance (moved to State and Private Forestry as National and 

Rural Fire Capacity). 

The third change removes language regarding activities conducted under the Community Forest 

Restoration Act. 

The fourth change cancels $65 million made available in title III of division F of Public Law 113-235 to 

purchase a next generation large airtanker. 
118 

The fifth change is a cap adjustment Budget request in a new account, the Wildfire Suppression 

Operations Fund, at the end of Federal Funds section of the Other Independent Agencies chapter. 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $2,504,986,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 2,314,793,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. 190,193,000

 
119 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Appropriations:

Preparedness......................................................................... $813,510 7,170 $1,067,620 6,936 $1,075,268 6,936 +$199,352 +94 $1,274,620 7,030 

Suppression.......................................................................... 1,602,577 3,100 2,169,341 3,752 1,239,525 3,752 -74,159 -712 1,165,366 3,040 

Hazardous Fuels /a............................................................... 299,884 1,815 366,000 1,884 - - - - - - 

National Fire Capacity /b..................................................... 56 81,308 78,000 57 - - - - - - 

Rural Fire Capacity /c........................................................... 13,032 - 15,000 - - - - - - - 

Wildland Fire Management - Other d/.............................. 418,408 - - - - - - - - - 

Total Adjusted Approp.......................................................... 3,228,719 12,141 3,695,961 12,629 2,314,793 10,688 +125,193 -618 2,439,986 10,070

Rescissions, Transfers, and Seq. (Net)................................ -142,390 107 -862,546 107 - - 65,000 - 65,000 -

Total Appropriation............................................................. 3,086,329 12,248 2,833,415 12,736 2,314,793 10,688 190,193 -618 2,504,986 10,070

Transfers In:

FLAME.................................................................................. 675,165 - 489,835 - - - - - - -

FLAME - From DOI.............................................................. - - 50,000 - - - - - - -

Fire Transfer.......................................................................... - - 381,506 - - - - - - -

Fire Transfer Repayment..................................................... - - - - - - - - - -

Department of Interior......................................................... 122 - - - - - - - - -

Total.................................................................................... 675,287 - 921,341 - - - - - - -

Transfers Out:

National Forest System - IRR............................................. -24,000 - -24,000 - - - - - - -

Fire Transfer.......................................................................... -479,039 - -15,000 - - - - - - -

National Fire Plan e/............................................................. -19,795 -99 -19,795 -107 - - - - - -

Joint Fire Science.................................................................. -6,914 -8 - - - - - - - -

Department of Interior......................................................... -3,148 - - - - - - - - -

Total.................................................................................... -532,897 -107 -58,795 -107 - - - - - -

Adjustment for Expenditure Transfer from Trust Fund f/. - - 140,000 - - - - - - -

Rescission g/............................................................................ - - - - - - -65,000 - -65,000 -

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. 120,570 - 118,775 - 164,202 - - - 164,202 -

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... 238,563 - 192,673 - - - - - - -

Total Available..................................................................... 3,587,852 12,141 4,147,409 12,629 2,478,995 10,688 +125,193 - -618 2,604,188 10,070

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. -118,775 - -164,202 - -164,202 - - - -164,202 -

Total Obligations..................................................................... 3,469,077 12,141 3,983,207 12,629 2,314,793 10,688 125,193 -618 2,439,986 10,070

Notes:

b/ National Fire Capacity is shifted from State and Private Forestry in FY 2019; FY 2018 is shifted for comparability; previously State Fire Assistance

c/ Rural Fire Capacity is shifted to State and Private Forestry in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability; previously Volunteer Fire Assistance

g/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation 

e/ National Fire Plan shifted to Research and Development in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability

f/ FY 2017 Adjustment for Expenditure Transfer From Trust fund is for fire transfer from Knutson-Vandenberg Trust Fund

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 

a/ Hazardous Fuels is shifted to National Forest System in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability 

d/ Other includes FY 2016 cost pool authority; FY 2017 and forward cost pools remain in programs in Wildland Fire Management.
120 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Discretionary Obligations:

Preparedness......................................................................... $842,046 7,170 $1,094,984 6,936 1,075,268 6,936 +$199,352 +94 $1,274,620 7,030 

Suppression.......................................................................... 1,875,606 3,100 2,410,165 3,752 1,239,525 3,752 -74,159 -712 1,165,366 3,040 

Hazardous Fuels /a............................................................... 322,534 1,815 377,625 1,884 - - - - - - 

National Fire Capacity /b..................................................... 77,987 56 83,715 57 - - - - - - 

Rural Fire Capacity /c........................................................... 13,007 - 15,246 - - - - - - - 

Wildland Fire Management - Other d/.............................. 337,896 - 1,472 - - - - - - - 

Total Obligations.................................................................. 3,469,077 12,141 3,983,207 12,629 2,314,793 10,688 +125,193 -618 2,439,986 10,070

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. 118,775 164,202 164,202 - - 164,202 

Total Available..................................................................... 3,587,852 12,141 4,147,409 12,629 2,478,995 10,688 +125,193 -618 2,604,188 10,070

Transfers In.............................................................................. -675,287 - -921,341 - - - - - - -

Transfers Out e/....................................................................... 532,897 107 58,795 107 - - - - - -

Adjustment for Expenditure Transfer from Trust Fund f/. - - -140,000 - - - - - - - 

Rescission g/............................................................................ - - - - - - +65,000 - 65,000 - 

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. -120,570 - -118,775 - -164,202 - - - -164,202 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... -238,563 - -192,673 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation............................................................. 3,086,329 12,248 2,833,415 12,736 2,314,793 10,688 190,193 -618 2,504,986 10,070

Notes:

b/ National Fire Capacity is shifted from State and Private Forestry in FY 2019; FY 2018 is shifted for comparability; previously State Fire Assistance

c/ Rural Fire Capacity is shifted to State and Private Forestry in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability; previously Volunteer Fire Assistance

g/ Rescission in FY 2019 is a proposed cancellation 

f/ FY 2017 Adjustment for Expenditure Transfer From Trust fund is for fire transfer from Knutson-Vandenberg Trust Fund

d/ Other includes FY 2016 cost pool authority; FY 2017 and forward cost pools remain in programs in Wildland Fire Management.

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 

a/ Hazardous Fuels is shifted to National Forest System in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability 

e/ National Fire Plan shifted to Research and Development in FY 2019; FY 2018 shifted for comparability
121 

Justifications 

Four Year Summary of Appropriations and Staff Years 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Preparedness 

(1) An increase of $264,352,000 and 94 staff years ($1,075,268,000 and 6,936 staff years in 2018). 

The Preparedness program is essential to reducing the costs associated with wildfires. The program ensures that fire 

management assets, such as large airtankers, helicopters, hot shot crews, and smokejumpers, are available to initial 

attack response operations on National Forest System, and other Federal, State, Tribal, and private lands. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 The Forest Service has strong capacity and internationally recognized expertise in managing and 

suppressing wildland fire, and a robust network of Federal, Tribal, State, and local partners. 

 The Forest Service provides the majority of aviation assets for wildland firefighting efforts on National 

Forest System lands, and other Federal, State, and local jurisdictions. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of ensuring the productive and sustainable use of National Forest 

System lands, and supports USDA’s Strategic Objective to Mitigate Wildfire Risk. The Forest Service fire budget 

supports robust, coordinated, and multi-jurisdictional response to all wildland fire incidents in the Nation. 

Funds will be used to support 7,030 staff years, as well as internal and external training and education; development 

and advancement of firefighting technology; organizational learning; and modernization of the agency’s aviation 

fleet. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) An increase of $264,352,000 in preparedness program management. 

This funding increase is tied to the shift in funds from Suppression Operations to Preparedness for 

firefighter base 8 salary hours that was implemented in FY 2018. This increase is in comparison to FY 

2017 numbers (2018 Annualized CR), and thus is showing the base 8 shift for FY 2019. 

Suppression Operations 

(2) A decrease of $74,159,000 and 712 staff years ($1,239,525 and 3,752 staff years in 2018). 

The Suppression Operations program is the primary funding source for extended attack and large fire support. It 

protects our forests and watersheds from the impacts of uncharacteristic fire, helping forests maintain their capacity 

to deliver benefits such as clean water, wildlife and fish habitat, recreational opportunities, and forest products. Just 

as importantly, our Suppression Operations program maintains our strong emergency response role of working with 

other Federal agencies, State, Tribal, and local government partners to protect life and property against wildfire and 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Preparedness $1,082,620 7,170 $1,082,620 6,936 $1,075,268 6,936 +$264,352 (1) +94 $1,339,620 7,030 

Suppression 811,000 3,100 1,248,000 3,752 1,239,525 3,752 -74,159 (2) -712 1,165,366 3,040 

Research and Development 19,795 99 19,795 107 - - - - - - 

Joint Fire Science Program 6,914 8 - - - - - - - - 

Hazardous Fuels 375,000 1,815 390,000 1,884 - - - - - - 

National Fire Capacity 78,000 56 78,000 57 - - - - - - 

Rural Fire Capacity 13,000 - 15,000 - - - - - - - 

Wildland Fire Management Total 2,386,329 12,248 2,833,415 12,736 2,314,793 10,688 190,193 -618 2,504,986 10,070

Program

 2019 President's 

2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
122 

other natural disasters. The program helps restore and maintain resilient landscapes by managing unplanned 

wildfires and accomplishing resource management goals. 

Continuation of the program is critical because: 

 Each year, more than 70,000 wildfires burn about 7 million acres of Federal, Tribal, State, and private land 

and more than 3,500 structures. 

 The Suppression Operations program allows the Forest Service to maintain a strong emergency response 

role working with other Federal agencies, State, Tribal, and local government partners to protect life and 

property in fire suppression response. 

This request supports USDA’s Strategic Goal of ensuring the productive and sustainable use of the National Forest 

System lands, and supports USDA’s Strategic Objective to Mitigate Wildfire Risk. Catastrophic wildland fires 

threaten not only public safety and human life, but also incur private property losses, damage to utility reliability, 

damage to recreation facilities, and loss of timber resources. The agency employs thousands of fire management 

professionals and researchers with extensive experience in managing and suppressing wildland fire. The Forest 

Service is the recognized leader in wildland fire management and incident command, providing training and support 

to State and local partners and international entities in managing wildland fire. 

Funds will be used to support 3,040 staff years, as well as fund firefighters and equipment in direct support of 

wildfire incidents, aviation asset operations, incident support functions, and wildfire management administration. 

The funding change is requested for the following items: 

a) A decrease of $74,159,000 in fire suppression operations. 

Funds will be used to support the cost and complexity of response operations that are reflected in the 

rolling ten-year average. This decrease is due to the movement of funds into Preparedness for the agency’s 

base 8 salary adjustments, requiring the 10-year average for Suppression Operations to be rebaselined. 

Despite the reduction from the base 8 shift, the decision to fully fund the 10-year rolling average minimized 

the overall impact to total Suppression funding. 

Forest Service Suppression Obligations FY 2008–FY 20171

(Dollars in thousands)

Fiscal Year Net Nominal Suppression 

Obligations 

Adjusted 

Obligations Rolling 10-year Average 

2008 $1,101,083 $1,170,838 

$1,165,386 

2009 523,383 591,994 

2010 412,323 464,977 

2011 873,442 970,328 

2012 1,243,740 1,352,392 

2013 1,140,116 1,213,849 

2014 964,339 1,011,802 

2015 1,443,369 1,492,743 

2016 1,347,136 1,373,816 

2017 2,010,920 2,010,920 

1The 10-year average was rebaselined in FY 2018 to account for the shift in "base 8" salary hours from Suppression Operations to

Preparedness. Base 8 is a short-hand term used to describe the first eight hours per day worked by a firefighter. Based on this
123 

change and adherence to established business rules, actual obligations for 2008–2017 have been adjusted and the base 8 

expenditures from those years were removed from the 10-year average suppression expenditure calculation. 

Wildfire Suppression Operations Fund 

From 2010 through 2017, amounts in the FLAME Fund included the portion of the ten-year average of suppression 

obligations, adjusted for inflation, intended to support the most severe, complex, and threatening fires. The Secretary 

is authorized to permit transfers from this account to cover these extreme fire events. The Secretary may also 

transfer funds in the event the Forest Service has exhausted its suppression resources due to an active fire season. In 

2019, the Budget proposes to discontinue funding requests in the FLAME account. The Budget proposed to fund the 

full ten-year suppression average in the Wildland Fire Management account. The FLAME account will be closed out 

when the current balance is drawn down. The Budget also proposes to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency 

Deficit Control Act to establish a separate annual cap adjustment for wildfire suppression operations, similar to how 

unanticipated funding needs for other natural disasters are addressed. This cap adjustment will help ensure that 

adequate resources are available to the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to fight wildland fires, protect 

communities, and safeguard human life during the most severe wildland fire seasons. The cap adjustment Budget 

request is in a new account, the Wildfire Suppression Operations Fund, at the end of Federal Funds section of the 

Other Independent Agencies chapter. 

In addition, the Administration believes that meaningful forest management reforms to strengthen our ability to 

restore the Nation’s forests and improve their resilience to destructive wildfires should be a part of any permanent 

solution. 

 
124 

Classification by Objects 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016 

Actual

2017 

Actual

2018 

Annualized CR

2019 

President's 

Budget

Personnel Compensation:

11.0 Total personnel compensation..................................... $962,962 $1,062,772 $847,717 $798,701

12.0 Personnel benefits.......................................................... 323,987 350,601 285,213 268,722

13.0 Benefits for former personnel........................................ 33,999 29,376 29,930 28,199

Total, personnel comp. and benefits......................... 1,320,948 1,442,749 1,162,860 1,095,622

Other Objects:

21.0 Travel and transportation of persons.......................... 91,996 98,278 44,563 52,007

22.0 Transportation of things................................................ 12,999 19,313 8,757 10,220

23.1 Rent payments to GSA................................................... 14,999 16,514 7,488 8,739

23.2 Rental payments to others............................................. 31,999 35,412 16,057 18,739

23.3 Communications, utilities, and misc. charges............. 45,998 45,750 20,745 24,210

24.0 Printing and reproduction.............................................. 1,000 898 407 475

25.1 Advisory and assistance services............................... 6,000 6,684 3,031 3,537

25.2 Other Services................................................................. 1,010,962 1,516,815 687,776 802,671

25.3 Purchases of goods and services................................. 171,993 230,236 104,397 121,837

25.4 Operation and maintenance of facilities...................... 1,000 1,535 696 812

25.5 Research and development contracts.......................... 1,000 251 114 133

25.6 Medical care..................................................................... 213 264 120 140

25.7 Operation and maintenance of equipment.................. 6,000 7,652 3,470 4,049

26.0 Supplies and materials.................................................... 123,995 138,500 62,801 73,292

31.0 Equipment........................................................................ 19,999 27,876 12,640 14,751

32.0 Land and Structures....................................................... 1,000 293 133 155

41.0 Grants................................................................................ 605,976 393,280 178,327 208,117

42.0 Insurance Claims and Indemnities................................ 1,000 907 411 480

Total , Other Objects................................................... 2,148,129 2,540,458 1,151,933 1,344,364

99.9 Total, new obligations.............................................. 3,469,077 3,983,207 2,314,793 2,439,986

$246 $257 $246 $246

Position Data:

Average Salary (dollars), ES positions........................ $175,383 $177,227 $180,595 $180,595

Average Salary (dollars), GS positions........................ $48,156 $53,397 $54,412 $54,412

Average Grade, GS positions........................................ 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.7

DHS Building Security Payments (included in 25.3)...............
125 

Status of Programs 

The Wildland Fire Management appropriation enables the Forest Service to provide personnel and assets needed to 

protect communities and resources from the threats of increasingly frequent catastrophic wildfire events. The costs 

of fire management activities continue to consume an ever-increasing portion of the Forest Service’s appropriated 

budget, which is debilitating to the agency’s successful implementation of active land management, recreation, 

restoration, planning, and other mission-critical activities. The demand for effective wildland fire management 

grows more critical as the length of fire season grows to be almost year-round, the wildland-urban interface 

continues to expand, and fuel loads are at very high levels. These factors create an increased probability of 

catastrophically large fires that risk life and property. The high cost of suppression also often creates a need for “fire 

transfers” – borrowing funds from non-fire programs to cover the cost of suppression – which creates a substantial 

loss in momentum for critical land management programs that ultimately exacerbate the complexity and intensity of 

fire suppression operations in future years. 

In FY 2018, the Forest Service changed agency policy to charge all base 8 hours of pay for firefighters to 

Preparedness funding, which is consistent with the business rule for these costs at the Department of the Interior 

(DOI). Base 8 refers to the first eight hours per day worked by a firefighter (a firefighter is a person that charges 

more than 50 percent of their base time per year to Preparedness and Suppression Operations accounts). This change 

ensures that all firefighter base time costs are tracked on an annual basis. This approach will improve accountability 

and transparency at both the national and regional levels. To account for the increased costs in Preparedness, the 

corresponding funding was shifted from the Suppression program. Prior year suppression costs were rebaselined to 

reflect the base 8 transition which resulted in a decrease of the rolling ten-year average. The overall amount required 

for both Suppression Operations and Preparedness did not decrease but is now aligned differently in support of base 

8 realignment. 

Funding from both Suppression and Preparedness for research has resulted in well over 200 scientific publications 

since 2009. These research publications have centered on several key topic areas like new physical fire spread 

modeling, the development of enhanced risk-based planning tools for fuels management and fire response planning, 

and large fire suppression effectiveness. Specific research efforts from this collaboration that have had a major 

influence on fire management efforts include: (1) Spatial risk assessment framework – this planning framework has 

been applied throughout National Forest System lands at a variety of scales from project-level planning, land and 

resource management planning at the individual national forests, regional resource prioritization, and national scale 

assessments; (2) Large Air Tankers (LATs) utilization – research has examined characteristics of recent historical 

use of LATs with a focus on initial attack, large fire support usage trends, general conditions of effectiveness and 

safety, and better understanding retardant effectiveness and opportunities for enhanced field-based decision support 

tools and performance measurement; (3) Large fire suppression effectiveness – research into the effectiveness of 

individual suppression assets and identification of locations on the landscape where suppression actions are likely to 

be safe and effective. 

As directed by Congress in the FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a detailed table of actual and proposed 

estimated funding for fire operations, including aviation resources, is listed below: 

Preparedness and Suppression Operations Costs 

 (Dollars in millions) 

Preparedness FY 2017 Actual FY 2018 

Annualized CR 

FY 2019 

President’s Budget 

Firefighters $419 $419 $594 

Firefighting Equipment and Support 245 237 261 

Aviation Contracts/Support 153 153 139 

Agency Cost Pools 266 266 346 

Total Preparedness1 $1,083 $1,075 $1,340 

 
126 

Suppression Operations2 FY 2017 Actual FY 2018 

Annualized CR 

FY 2019 

President’s Budget

Firefighters $526 $360 $344 

Fire Suppression Operations and Logistics 904 441 405 

Aviation Operations 80 100 100 

Interagency (DOI) and State Fire Support 271 213 271 

Burned Area Emergency Response 13 25 25 

Agency Cost Pools 101 101 20 

Total Suppression Operations3 $1,8954 $1,240 $1,165 

1

The Preparedness program ensures that fire management assets, such as large airtankers, helicopters, hot shot crews, and smoke jumpers are 

available to support initial attack response operations on the National Forest System, other Federal, State, and private lands. 2

Does not include FLAME funding in FY 2018 Annualized CR. 

3

The Suppression Operations program ensures that fire management assets, such as large airtankers, helicopters, hot shot crews, and smoke 

jumpers are available to support extended attack and large fire support operations at fires on the NFS, other Federal, State, and private lands. 4

The total cost of suppression in FY 2017 was $2.4 billion. After appropriated funds for suppression were exhausted, the agency transferred 

$526.5 million from discretionary and mandatory accounts to cover suppression costs. 

Resource Summary FY 2017 to FY 2019 

(Aviation fleet and personnel) 

Resource FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Engines1 900 900 900 

Heavy Equipment – Dozers, Tractor Plow Units, Tenders 210 210 210 

Helicopters 

Type 12 34 28 28 

Type 23 33 34 34 

Type 34 46 46 46 

Airtankers 

Legacy Airtankers5 4 0 0 

Next Generation Airtankers5 16 13 Up to 18 

U.S. Coast Guard aircraft converted airtankers HC-130H 1 1 0 

Scoopers 2 0 0 

Firefighters (FFTR) – Total is inclusive of categories below 10,000 10,000 10,000 

Type I Interagency Hot Shot Crews (20-person) 67 crews 

1,340 FFTR 

67 crews 

1,340 FFTR 

67 crews, 

1,340 FFTR 

Other Firefighters 7,940 7,940 7,940 

Smoke Jumpers 320 320 320 

Prevention Technicians 400 400 400 1Refers to the suite of wheeled vehicles used to carry firefighters and water to the site of a fire. 2Includes only agency owned/leased or exclusive use contracted assets. Type 1 are the heaviest class of helicopters. 3Medium-sized helicopters. 

4Includes only helicopters whose primary purpose is wildland fire response. Type 3 are the lightest class of helicopters. 

5Numbers reflect maximum number of aircraft allowed under the contracts. 

Preparedness 

Current Activities: 

Annually, there are more than 7,000 fires on National Forest System lands and Forest Service firefighters had an 

initial attack success rate – the percent of fires that were suppressed before they reached 300 acres in size – of 97 

percent in FY 2017 

The Preparedness program ensures that fire management assets, such as large airtankers, helicopters, hot shot crews, 

and smokejumpers, are able to support timely, risk-informed, and effective initial attack response operations on 

National Forest System, other Federal, State, and private lands. This program supports internal and external training 

and education; development and advancement of firefighting technology; and organizational learning. 
127 

Specific areas being addressed in order to inform organizational structure and operational effectiveness include: 

 Moving towards the standard module configuration of ground-based firefighting resources. Standard 

module configuration for number of people, pay grade, and skill level per asset provides for greater 

uniformity across individual teams, increases confidence in capability between resource teams, and creates 

a more predictable cost model for the Preparedness program. 

 Standing up the Wildland Fire Investment Portfolio System (WFIPS). The WFIPS is a tool for evaluating 

where to invest firefighting capacity and geographic resource allocation under various wildland fire 

management objectives on both national and regional scales. The information provided by the WFIPS will 

be utilized to inform decisions on tradeoffs between number, type, and location of firefighting resources 

and likelihood of large fire occurrences. 

Selected Example of Recent Progress: 

Fully funding firefighter base time in Preparedness: The shifting of all firefighter base 8 costs into Preparedness has 

resulted in greater transparency within the program and a better understanding of the full cost of maintaining 

sufficient firefighting capacity to respond to the Nation’s needs. The agency is committed to leveraging every 

Preparedness dollar to create a resilient, responsive, and cost efficient firefighting organization that can provide the 

national response capacity required, while also becoming more agile and responsive to changing fire season 

conditions. 

Cost savings efforts: The agency has pursued, and continues to pursue, cost savings solutions across the 

Preparedness program in an attempt to streamline operations and become a more efficient and agile organization. 

Efforts undertaken include reviewing procurement procedures jointly with DOI to reduce duplication of effort, 

exploring partnership opportunities with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to leverage existing 

capability and reduce Forest Service reliance on surveillance planes, and creating key performance indicators to 

evaluate operational and cost effectiveness of asset use and decision making. 

Aviation fleet size management: As part of a more standard structure for planning and budgeting and in an effort to 

ensure funds are spent most effectively, significant shifts have occurred with regards to the number of aviation 

assets that are on both exclusive use contract and agency-owned since 2017. In 2017, six large fire support 

helicopters were removed from exclusive use contracts and placed on call-when-needed contracts. Starting in FY 

2018, both exclusive use water scoopers were switched to call-when-needed contracts. Neither of these actions 

reduce the overall capability of the Forest Service to respond to wildfires; rather they ensure a more financially 

viable model for the maintenance and acquisition of aircraft. FY 2018 is also the last year the agency will support 

the HC-130H program that was authorized within the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. The agency will 

seek the support of the appropriate Congressional committees to terminate the agency-owned HC-130H program in 

2019. The agency has determined that the HC-130H program is no longer necessary since private industry is capable 

of fulfilling the agency’s required large airtanker needs. 

Suppression Operations 

Current Activities: 

The Suppression Operations program is the primary funding source for wildland fire extended attack and large fire 

support operations. It protects forests and watersheds from the impacts of catastrophic fire, helping forests maintain 

their capacity to deliver benefits such as clean water, wildlife and fish habitat, recreational opportunities, and forest 

products. Just as importantly, our Suppression Operations program maintains our strong role of working with other 

Federal agencies, State, Tribal, and local government partners to protect life and property against wildfire and other 

natural disasters. The program helps restore and maintain resilient landscapes by managing unplanned wildfires and 

accomplishing resource management goals. 

Risks to the public from wildland fires are increasing at an alarming rate due to longer fire seasons, increasing size 

of the wildland-urban interface (WUI), and increased fuel loads. Wildfire suppression operations in the WUI have 

become the norm over the last several decades due to the increasing wildland fire threats against public safety and 

human life, private property losses, damage to utilities and recreation facilities, and loss of timber resources. While 

wildland fire is a natural process, the existing socio-political and environmental conditions do not always allow for 
128 

wildland fire to play its natural role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. The Forest Service is working to increase the 

amount of active land management activities and is coordinating with the pubic on fire prevention to increase the 

resilience of our forested ecosystems and adjacent communities to wildland fire. 

Some fires create situations that require special efforts to prevent further problems after the fire. For example, loss 

of vegetation exposes soil to erosion; runoff may increase and cause flooding, sending sediment downstream to 

damage houses or fill reservoirs, and putting endangered species and community water supplies at risk. The Forest 

Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program, funded under Suppression Operations, addresses these 

situations with the goal of protecting life, property, water quality, and deteriorated ecosystems from further damage 

post-fire. The BAER program provides for immediate emergency post-fire response to manage unacceptable risks to 

people and resources triggered by the changed conditions to the landscape caused by the fire. The BAER program 

also manages access to ensure the safety of visitors and employees through hazard tree removal, posting of warning 

signs, and temporary gate and fence construction. All emergency stabilization actions must be taken within one year. 

The annual fire season continues to increase in length and intensity. FY 2017 was the most expensive fire season to 

date, complicated by early activity in the southeast and extended periods of the highest National Preparedness Level 

5, indicating full resource utilization. The Forest Service fully leveraged all available resources, and in partnership 

with other Federal, State, and local partners responded to 6,604 fires on the National Forest System. 

The agency continues to focus on the following areas: 

 The wildland fire environment is highly uncertain, particularly when confronted with large, long duration 

fire events where the suppression effort is either ineffective or excessively hazardous. The agency has 

started applying analytical systems to our decisional framework to answer questions related to how fire 

suppression resources are currently allocated, which suppression resources are actually effective, and study 

whether practices currently employed by incident managers are efficient. 

 The 2017 fire season saw over 8,500,000 acres burned in wildland fires, with over 2,300,000 of those acres 

occurring on National Forest System lands, the most since 2012. Due to the late fire seasons in the Pacific 

Northwest and northern Rockies, the BAER program will be supporting rehabilitation efforts in those 

regions during the first part of FY 2018. 

 The agency continually strives to improve its transparency and accountability in the costs of wildfire 

response operations. Due to the increasingly complex wildfire environment, other Federal, State, and local 

entities continue to rely on specialized Forest Service-contracted firefighting capabilities. The Forest 

Service will seek to establish appropriate cost-share agreements and pursue 100 percent cost recovery from 

Federal, State, and local entities to equitably balance these costs among users. 

Selected Examples of Recent Progress: 

Real time decision support through applied science: The Forest Service’s Risk Management Assistance Team 

(RMAT) was initiated in FY 2017 and provided on-the-ground support to Incident Management Teams on large fire 

incidents in Regions 1, 3, and 4. The RMAT is comprised of Forest Service wildland fire experts and researchers 

who provide real time analysis, enhanced decision-support capacity, and expertise to improve risk management and 

the overall safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of the fire management response. The RMAT provides Incident 

Commanders and local line officers with alternative strategies for suppression response that better consider program 

spending and the inherent tradeoffs of exposure to fire responders, the public, risk to highly valued assets, and 

opportunities for using fire as a natural change agent and improving overall ecological conditions. 

Improving risk management through “Life Work”: The Forest Service continues to emphasize the need to make 

risk-informed decisions in the face of complex and challenging fire response situations. In FY 2017, the agency 

undertook an initiative to more reliably protect responders and the public, sustain communities, and conserve the 

land. This effort, referred to as the “Life Work” initiative, is an agency priority and places an expectation on all line 

officers and leadership to use lessons learned and recognize common circumstances that result in unnecessary 

firefighter exposure and high risk behavior. 
129 

BAER emergency stabilization activities: In FY 2017, 73 fires across seven Forest Service regions resulted in 

landscape level disturbances in need of immediate rehabilitation activities to prevent further degradation. A total of 

$17.2 million was spent in FY 2017 on actions to stabilize the soil and structural integrity of sites that were severely 

burned as a result of wildfires, including the seeding of over 8,580 acres, mulching of 8,345 acres, storm proofing of 

509 miles of roads, and stabilization of 20 cultural resources sites. 

Program Evaluations: 

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report published on October 5, 2017, titled “Wildfire Suppression 

Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 115th Congress” discusses the increasing cost of fire 

suppression activities across the Federal government, and suggests that these increases may be having a detrimental 

impact on other agency programs. The report discusses the creation of a wildfire disaster cap to address large fire 

events, an approach supported by the Administration. A previous version of this report titled “Wildfire Spending: 

Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 114th Congress” was published in June 2015. 

Another CRS report titled “Wildfire Management Funding: Background, Issues, and FY2018 Appropriations”, 

published October 31, 2017, noted that the rising cost of fire suppression activities may require a tradeoff analysis to 

determine if fire suppression funding should compete with other agency program funding or whether investing more 

funding into hazardous fuels reduction may help reduce wildfire costs in the future. The Wildland Fire Investment 

Portfolio System (WFIPS) is intended to inform this tradeoff analysis by modeling the impacts of additional 

investments in hazardous fuels treatments and how those investments impact the likelihood of a large fire event. 

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a July 2017 “Audit of Forest Services’ Next Generation and Legacy 

Airtanker Contract Awards” in-progress report, which identified several issues in how the agency executes callwhen-needed (CWN) aircraft contracts in support of fire suppression operations. The OIG determined that CWN 

contacts were not being placed by the designated agency contracting officer, that data was incorrectly entered into 

the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), and that obligations for flight rate costs were not properly budgeted 

for the projected utilization costs. In response to these findings, the agency formed the Transforming Incident 

Procurement Project team to ensure that procurement and contracting processes are in compliance with the Federal 

Acquisition Regulation, revised agency reporting procedures for information entered into FPDS, and developed a 

strategy to commit funds in advance of CWN aircraft activation to properly budget for projected utilization costs. 

A second in-progress OIG audit, “Forest Service Firefighting Cost Share Agreements with Non-Federal Entities”, 

(latest report from December 2015), evaluated controls surrounding the administration of cost-share agreements and 

whether fire suppression costs are equitably shared. The agency agreed with the OIG recommendations to reassess 

its fire protection responsibilities with the California fire management agency; to establish procedures to monitor the 

indirect cost rates used to reimburse local fire cooperators; and determine any unallowable overpayments and 

recover the amounts overpaid to the cooperators. 

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is in the process of reviewing how Federal agencies might better 

collaborate with non-Federal stakeholders to reduce wildfire risk to communities. The GAO identified in their May 

2017 report to Congress titled “Wildland Fire Risk Reduction: Multiple Factors Affect Federal-Nonfederal 

Collaboration, but Action Could be Taken to Better Measure Progress” several factors that have situationally 

enhanced or hindered collaboration. The factors identified include Federal authorities, agency initiatives, joint 

community-level planning, and others. The GAO found that the 2014 National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management 

Strategy (Cohesive Strategy) was helpful in improving collaboration because it emphasizes the importance of 

coordination across multiple agencies and includes comprehensive fire management goals. The GAO has 

recommended that the Forest Service and DOI work with the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC), the 

interagency body charged with implementing the Cohesive Strategy, to develop measures to assess progress towards 

achieving the goals outlined in the Cohesive Strategy. The Forest Service agrees with this recommendation and 

continues to work with WFLC and other entities to reduce the risk of wildland fire on all lands. 

 
130 

Primary Authorities 

Title of Act or 

Program 

Summary of Authority Expiration 

Date (if 

applicable) 

Programs 

Affected 

Public Law 

Citation 

U.S.C. 

Reference 

Cooperative 

Firefighting Funds 

Retention 

Any money collected from the 

States for fire suppression 

assistance rendered by the 

Forest Service on non-Federal 

lands not in the vicinity of 

National Forest System lands 

shall hereafter be used to 

reimburse the applicable 

appropriation and shall remain 

available until expended. 

 SPF P.L. 105-277 16 U.S.C. 

2106b 

Department of 

Agriculture Organic 

Act - Aviation, 

Lookout Towers, & 

Fire Management 

Authorizes the Forest Service, 

by contract or otherwise, to 

provide for procurement and 

operation of aerial facilities and 

services for the protection and 

management of the national 

forests and other lands 

administered by the agency. 

 WFM P.L. 91-435 16 U.S.C. 579a 

FLAME Act of 2009 Establishes a second 

discretionary appropriation 

account for wildfire 

suppression operations. 

 FLAME P.L. 111-88 43 USC 1701 

note; 43 U.S.C. 

1748a 

Reciprocal Fire 

Protection Act, Fire 

Protection 

Agreements and 

Mutual Aid Agencies 

Authorizes agreements between 

agencies of the United States 

Government and other 

domestic agencies, including 

State and local entities and 

instrumentalities for mutual aid 

in fire protection and allows for 

reimbursements for costs 

incurred by the Department of 

Agriculture for fire protection 

rendered to be credited to the 

same appropriation or fund 

from which the expenses were 

paid. 

 WFM P.L. 84-46; 42 U.S.C. 

1856a-d; 

Southwest Forest 

Health and Wildfire 

Prevention Act of 

2004, Ecological 

Restoration 

Institutes 

Establishes institutes to 

demonstrate and promote the 

use of adaptive ecosystem 

management to reduce the risk 

of wildfires, and restore the 

health of fire-adapted forest 

and woodland ecosystems of 

the interior west. If the 

Secretary determines that an 

Institute does not qualify for 

further Federal assistance under 

this Act, the Institute shall 

receive no further Federal 

assistance under this Act until 

such time as the qualifications 

of the Institute are 

 WFM P.L. 108-317 16 U.S.C. 

6701-6707 
131 

Title of Act or 

Program 

Summary of Authority Expiration 

Date (if 

applicable) 

Programs 

Affected 

Public Law 

Citation 

U.S.C. 

Reference 

reestablished. Authorizes $15 

million annually. 

Temporary 

Emergency Wildfire 

Suppression Act 

This Act authorizes reciprocal 

agreements with foreign fire 

organizations for mutual aid in 

wildfire protection. 

 WFM P.L 100-428, 

P.L. 101-11, 

P.L. 112-74 

42 U.S.C. 

1856m et seq. 

 
132 

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133 

Permanent Appropriations 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $299,275,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 296,285,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. 2,990,000

 
134 

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Mandatory Appropriations:

Brush Disposal .................................................................... $45,378 67 -$16,789 113 $8,042 113 -$42 - $8,000 113 

Hardwood Technology Transfer & Applied Research.. - - - - - - - - - - 

Timber Salvage Sales........................................................... 218 99,263 -1,700 368 36,612 368 -612 - 36,000 368 

Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration..................................... 32 20,695 5,221 61 5,498 61 +2 - 5,500 61 

Forest Botanical Products................................................... 18 3,118 1,515 19 1,505 19 -5 - 1,500 19 

Stewardship Contracting..................................................... - 21,675 14,699 - 13,076 - +3,924 - 17,000 - 

Recreation Fees, Forest Service......................................... 566 114,622 68,906 698 99,936 698 -356 - 99,580 698 

Timber Purchaser Election Road Construction................ - 23,000 -27,724 - 2,006 - -6 - 2,000 - 

Operation & Maintenance of Forest Service Quarters... 29 15,225 9,179 26 10,000 26 - - 10,000 26 

Roads and Trails for States................................................. - - - - 17,000 - - - 17,000 - 

Land Between the Lakes Management............................. 11 4,655 5,460 13 5,460 13 - - 5,460 13 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Rental Fees.............. - 3,755 340 1 340 1 - - 340 1 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Restoration.............. - - - - - - - - - - 

Quinault Special Management Area.................................. - - 7 - 7 - - - 7 - 

Restoration of Forest Lands and Improvements............. 154 173,600 -142,716 159 12,885 159 -1,885 - 11,000 159 

Commercial Filming & Still Photography Land Use Fee 

Retention a/....................................................... 6 3,123 708 8 713 8 -3 - 710 8 

Organizational Camps Program a/...................................... 6 687 705 7 712 7 -2 - 710 7 

Cost Recovery (Land Uses)................................................ 41 8,936 7,397 52 4,522 52 +378 - 4,900 52 

Licensee Program Smokey Bear......................................... - 99 286 - 286 - - - 286 - 

Licensee Program Woodsy Owl......................................... - 7 33 - 33 - - - 33 - 

Forest Service Go Green Program (Conservation)........... - 34 99 - 99 - - - 99 - 

Conveyance of Administrative Sites................................. 3 25,752 2,224 2 981 2 +19 - 1,000 2 

Site-Specific Lands Act....................................................... 1 3,268 1,693 1 1,056 1 -56 - 1,000 1 

Payments to States Funds.................................................. 42 359,590 67,591 62 72,058 62 +5,092 - 77,150 62 

Valles Caldera........................................................................ - -302 - - - - - - - - 

Total Adjusted Appropriation 926,178 1,194 -2,866 1,590 292,827 1,590 +6,448 - 299,275 1,590

Rescissions, Transfers, and Seq. (Net)................................ -359,091 - 310,753 - 3,458 - -3,458 - - -

Total Appropriation............................................................. 567,087 1,194 307,887 1,590 296,285 1,590 2,990 - 299,275 1,590

Transfers In:

Fire Transfer Repayment..................................................... 361,700 - - - - - - - - -

NRDA from DOI................................................................... 1,666 - 1,391 - - - - - - -

PASS distribution (National Park Service)....................... 430 - 243 - - - - - - -

Total.................................................................................... 363,796 - 1,634 - - - - - - -

Transfers Out:

Bureau of Land Management ............................................ -56 - - - - - - - - -

Valles Caldera........................................................................ -302 - - - - - - - - -

Fire Transfer.......................................................................... - - -304,586 - - - - - - -

Total.................................................................................... -359 - -304,586 - - - - - - -

Adjustment for Change in Uncollected Payments............. 43 - -93 - - - - - - -

Sequestration........................................................................... -4,347 - -7,801 - -3,458 - +3,458 - - -

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. 366,122 - 779,369 - 406,279 - -101,290 - 304,989 -

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... 4,559 - 5,450 - - - - - - -

Total Available..................................................................... 1,296,902 1,194 781,860 1,590 699,106 1,590 -94,842 - 604,264 1,590

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. -779,369 - -406,279 - -304,989 - +73,742 - -231,247 -

Total Obligations..................................................................... 1,194 517,533 375,581 1,590 394,117 1,590 -21,100 - 373,017 1,590 

Note: 

a/ FY 2016 cost pool allocation updated for Organization Camps and Commercial Filming programs to correct error. 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
135 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Mandatory Obligations:

Brush Disposal a/................................................................. $11,683 67 $21,455 113 $21,000 113 - - $21,000 113 

Hardwood Technology Transfer & Applied Research.. - - - - - - - - - - 

Timber Salvage Sales a/....................................................... 26,727 218 53,614 368 58,000 368 - - 58,000 368 

Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration..................................... 6,115 32 15,952 61 15,400 61 -$3,500 - 11,900 61 

Forest Botanical Products................................................... 1,602 18 1,694 19 1,500 19 - - 1,500 19 

Stewardship Contracting..................................................... 12,511 - 12,902 - 13,000 - - - 13,000 - 

Recreation Fees, Forest Service......................................... 70,408 566 93,027 698 88,760 698 +4,000 - 92,760 698 

Timber Purchaser Election Road Construction................ 532 - 208 - 200 - - - 200 - 

Operation & Maintenance of Forest Service Quarters... 5,127 29 7,768 26 8,000 26 - - 8,000 26 

Roads and Trails for States................................................. - - - - - - - - - - 

Land Between the Lakes Management............................. 4,254 11 4,441 13 4,400 13 - - 4,400 13 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Rental Fees.............. 760 - 847 1 790 1 - - 790 1 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Restoration.............. - - - - - - - - - - 

Quinault Special Management Area.................................. 2 - 1 - 7 - - - 7 - 

Restoration of Forest Lands and Improvements............. 67,275 154 57,025 159 58,000 159 - - 58,000 159 

Commercial Filming & Still Photography Land Use Fee 

Retention.......................................................... 517 6 714 8 715 8 - - 715 8 

Organizational Camps Program.......................................... 1,000 6 410 7 400 7 - - 400 7 

Cost Recovery (Land Uses)................................................ 5,122 41 5,859 52 5,845 52 - - 5,845 52 

Licensee Program Smokey Bear......................................... 61 - 124 - 300 - - - 300 - 

Licensee Program Woodsy Owl......................................... - - - - 35 - - - 35 - 

Forest Service Go Green Program (Conservation)........... 19 - 14 - 15 - - - 15 - 

Conveyance of Administrative Sites................................. 11,308 3 4,193 2 7,000 2 - - 7,000 2 

Site-Specific Lands Act....................................................... 376 1 64 1 1,000 1 - - 1,000 1 

Payments to States Funds.................................................. 292,122 42 95,269 62 109,750 62 -21,600 - 88,150 62 

Valles Caldera........................................................................ 11 - - - - - - - - - 

Total Obligations.................................................................. 517,533 1,194 375,581 1,590 394,117 1,590 -21,100 - 373,017 1,590

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. - 779,369 406,279 - 304,989 - -73,742 - 231,247 - 

Total Available..................................................................... 1,296,902 1,194 781,860 1,590 699,106 1,590 -94,842 - - 604,264 1,590

Transfers In.............................................................................. -363,796 - -1,634 - - - - - - - 

Transfers Out........................................................................... 359 - 304,586 - - - - - - - 

Adjustment for Change in Uncollected Payments............. -43 - 93 - - - - - - - 

Sequestration........................................................................... 4,347 - 7,801 - 3,458 - -3,458 - - - 

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. -366,122 - -779,369 - -406,279 - +101,290 - -304,989 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... -4,559 - -5,450 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation............................................................. 1,194 567,087 307,887 1,590 296,285 1,590 +2,990 - 299,275 1,590 

Note: 

a/ FY 2016 Salvage and Brush disposal obligations updated to correct cost pool reporting error. 

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
136 

Status of Programs 

Brush Disposal 

Program Overview: 

This program provides for the disposal of unmerchantable brush and other debris resulting from timber harvest 

operations. Timber harvest activities create logging slash which, when left untreated, can increase the risk of fire, 

impair reforestation, and contribute to the buildup of insect populations. Logging slash can be mechanically treated 

by scattering, chipping, or crushing it down with logging equipment and allowing it to decay. Slash can also be 

subjected to broadcast burning or collected into piles and burned during non-hazardous weather conditions. 

Authorities: 

The Brush Disposal Act of August 11, 1916, as amended (16 U.S.C. 490). This Act authorizes the Secretary of 

Agriculture to require purchasers of national forest timber to deposit the estimated cost to dispose of brush and other 

debris resulting from their cutting operations. 

Timber Salvage Sales 

Program Overview: 

Salvage sales permit the timely removal of fire-damaged, weather-damaged, or insect-damaged and diseased trees to 

aid in maintaining healthy and resilient forest stands and ensuring community safety. The Timber Salvage Sale 

program collects revenues from the sale of timber from dead and dying trees to prepare and administer future 

salvage timber sales, including the provision of engineering support. These revenues are deposited into the Timber 

Salvage Sale fund and are available to immediately respond to timber salvage opportunities. 

Authorities: 

The National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a (h)). This Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture 

to require purchasers of salvage timber to make monetary deposits in a designated Treasury fund to cover the costs 

for sale preparation and administration, and the engineering design and administration of any needed roads 

necessary for the harvesting of salvage timber. Funds are available until expended. 

Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration 

Program Overview: 

The Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration fund contributes too many land and resource management objectives, such as 

improving forest health, restoring wildlife habitat, and providing forest products to meet local and national needs. In 

addition, the fund helps to address health and safety issues in recreation facilities and on system trails, benefiting the 

recreating public by addressing maintenance issues that may cause harm or otherwise detract from the outdoor 

experience. 

Authorities: 

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-134, Sec. 101 (c), [title III 

Sec. 327], April 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 1321-206 and 207). The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to collect and 

deposit revenues from a specific set of timber sales (i.e., sales released under P.L. 104-19, [title II, Sec. 2001(k)], 

July 27, 1995) for the purpose of preparing timber sales and addressing the backlog of recreation projects. Revenues 

from the sale of timber prepared using these funds are also deposited into this fund and are available for preparation 

of additional timber sales and recreation backlog projects. 
137 

Forest Botanical Products 

Program Overview: 

This authority provides a mechanism for charging and collecting fees from persons who harvest forest botanical 

products. The term “forest botanical products” refers to any naturally occurring mushrooms, fungi, flowers, seeds, 

roots, bark, leaves, and other vegetation (or portion thereof) that grow on National Forest System lands. Fees 

collected are available to cover the costs associated with granting, modifying, or administering the permits for 

harvesting, including the costs for environmental analyses. 

Authorities: 

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (16 U.S.C. 528 note) (P.L. 106-113, div. 

B, Sec. 1000(a)(3), [Appendix C, title III, Sec. 339], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-199, as amended by P.L. 

108-108,[title III, Sec. 335], Nov. 10, 2003, 117 Stat. 1312, and P.L. 111-88, [title IV, Sec. 420], Oct. 30, 2009, 123 

Stat. 2960). This Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to charge and collect fees from persons who harvest 

forest botanical products to cover at least a portion of the fair market value for the harvest of forest botanical 

products and a portion of the costs the agency incurs in administering the pilot program. Funds collected are 

deposited in a special fund in the Treasury. 

Extension of Forest Botanical Products Authorities; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76). This Act 

extends until September 30, 2019, the original authorization enacted through Section 339(h)(1) of the Department of 

the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (enacted into law by section 1000(a)(3) of Public Law 

106–113; 16 U.S.C. 528 note). This authority will expire on September 30, 2019, unless it is reauthorized by 

Congress. However, all funds collected on or prior to September 30, 2019, will remain available for expenditure 

through September 30, 2020. 

Stewardship Contracting 

Program Overview: 

Stewardship Contracting permits the Forest Service to apply the value of timber or other forest products as an offset 

against the costs to accomplish ecological restoration services, which may include thinning tree stands and removing 

brush. If the offset value of the timber/forest products exceeds the value of the restoration treatments, those receipts 

are retained and deposited in the Stewardship Contracting fund and are available until expended for other authorized 

stewardship projects. If the value of the restoration treatments exceeds the value of the timber/forest products, 

contractor payments are made from receipts in the fund. 

Authorities: 

Department of the Interior and Related Appropriations Act, 1999 (16 U.S.C. 2104 note) (P.L.105-277, div. A, Sec. 

101(e), [title III, Sec. 347], Oct. 21, 1998, Stat. 2681-231, amended by the Department of the Interior and Related 

Appropriations Act, 2003, P.L. 108-7, div. F, [title III, Sec. 323], Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 275). Section 323 of P.L. 

108-7 supersedes the original authority granted to the Forest Service in section 347 of P.L. 105-277. The 

stewardship contracting authority authorizes the Forest Service, via agreement or contract, to enter into stewardship 

projects to perform services to achieve land management goals and to meet local and rural community needs. This 

authority was made permanent, pursuant to P.L. 113-79, the Agricultural Act of 2014. 

Recreation Fees, Forest Service 

Program Overview: 

When recreation fees are collected by the Forest Service, 80 to 95 percent of the fees collected are deposited in the 

Recreation Fees, Forest Service fund, and are spent on maintaining and improving the area, site, or projects that 

directly relate to visitor enjoyment, access, and health and safety. 
138 

Authorities: 

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6806 and 6807) (P.L. 108-447, div. J, [title VIII, Sec. 807 

and Sec. 808] Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3388). This Act provides authority to implement a fee program for certain 

recreation sites on Federal lands. Fees collected from users of recreation facilities are used to pay for on-the-ground 

operation, maintenance, and improvements of recreation sites and services to maintain and enhance recreation 

opportunities, visitor experiences, and related habitat. Funds are available until expended. The act directs the 

creation of Recreation Resource Advisory Committees to allow for public involvement in recreation fee programs. 

This authority was originally set to expire on December 8, 2014, but was extended through December 8, 2015, 

pursuant to P.L. 113-46, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, through December 11, 2015, pursuant to P.L. 113-

164, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, through September 30, 2016, pursuant to P.L. 113-483, Consolidated 

and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, through September 30, 2017, pursuant to P.L. 114-53, Continuing 

Appropriations Act, 2016, and through September 30, 2018, pursuant to P.L. 114-223, extended through September 

30, 2019, pursuant to P.L. 115-56, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for 

Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017.

Timber Purchaser Election Road Construction 

Program Overview: 

The Timber Purchaser Election Road Construction program supports the construction and reconstruction of any 

permanent road or bridge as required under the terms and conditions of a timber sale contract. When a small 

business timber purchaser is awarded a contract, the purchaser may elect to pay the Forest Service to construct or 

reconstruct specified roads in the timber sale contract area to a standard necessary to harvest and remove timber and 

other forest products. The agency then uses the funds to contract for the required road work and administer the 

contract. The Purchaser Election Vegetative Treatment funds support the following activities to improve forest 

health: vegetative treatments in timber stands at high risk of fire due to insect, disease, or drought; road work in 

support of vegetative treatments to support forest health objectives; and maintenance of infrastructure for the 

processing of woody fiber in regions where it is critical to sustaining local economies and fulfilling forest health 

objectives. 

Authorities: 

National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a(i)). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 

use any receipts from the sale of timber for the construction of roads required under the timber sale contract. 

Department of the Interior and Related Appropriations Act, 1999 (16 U.S.C. 535a (c)) (P.L. 105-277, div. A, Sec. 

101(e), [title III, Sec. 329], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-231, 2681-292). This Act authorizes small business timber 

purchasers to elect to pay the Forest Service to construct or reconstruct any permanent roads or bridges required by 

the timber sale. The timber purchaser must be classified as a small business operator, and the total estimated 

reconstruction and construction cost in the timber sale contract must exceed $50,000. 

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-161, Sec. 6., div. F, [title 

IV, Sec. 423], Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2150). The Forest Service shall allocate to the regions of the Forest Service, 

$15 million from the current balance in the ‘‘timber roads purchaser election fund’, to remain available until 

expended. 

Operation and Maintenance of Forest Service Quarters 

Program Overview: 

This Act authorizes the collection of rental income from employees living in government owned or leased 

residences. Such rents and charges are deposited in a special Treasury fund and remain available for obligation for 

operation and maintenance of quarters until expended. 
139 

Authorities: 

Forest Service Quarters Operation and Maintenance (5 U.S.C. 5911, Other Provisions). This Act authorizes the 

collection of rental income from employees living in government owned or leased residences. Such rents and 

charges are deposited in a special Treasury fund and remain available for obligation for operation and maintenance 

of quarters until expended. 

Roads and Trails for States 

Program Overview: 

Under this fund, 10 percent of all National Forest Fund receipts, which is inclusive of both fees and other types of 

revenue, are used by the Forest Service without regard to the State in which the amounts were derived, to repair or 

reconstruct roads, bridges, and trails on National Forest System (NFS) lands. Funds are directed towards correcting 

road and trail deficiencies that adversely affect ecosystems. 

Authorities: 

The Act of March 4, 1913, as amended (16 U.S.C. 501). This Act authorizes 10 percent of all National Forest Fund 

receipts received by the national forests during each fiscal year to be expended for the construction and maintenance 

of roads and trails within the national forests in the States from which proceeds are derived. 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110–161, div F, title III, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2129). This Act 

directed “That funds becoming available in FY 2008 under the Act of March 4, 1913, (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be 

transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury and shall not be available for transfer or obligation for any other 

purpose unless the funds are appropriated.” 

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-88, div. A, title III, Oct. 

30, 2009, 123 Stat. 2940). This Act directed “That funds becoming available in FY 2010 under the Act of March 4, 

1913, (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury and shall not be available for transfer 

or obligation for any other purpose unless the funds are appropriated.” 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. 112-74). This Act directed “That funds becoming available in FY 2012 

under the Act of March 4, 1913, (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury and shall 

not be available for transfer or obligation for any other purpose unless the funds are appropriated.” 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76). This Act directed “That funds becoming available in FY 2014 

under the Act of March 4, 1913, (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury and shall 

not be available for transfer or obligation for any other purpose unless the funds are appropriated.” 

Land Between the Lakes Management 

Program Overview: 

The Land Between the Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area provides public recreational opportunities; conserves 

fish and wildlife and their habitat; provides for a diversity of plants and animals; and offers opportunities for 

hunting, fishing, and environmental education. 

Authorities: 

Land Between the Lakes Protection Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 460lll-24) (P.L. 105-277, div. A, Sec. 101(e) [title V, 

Sec. 524], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-315). This Act establishes the LBL Management fund. In accordance with 

Title V of the Act, responsibility for the LBL National Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee transferred from 

the Tennessee Valley Authority to the Secretary of Agriculture.
140 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Rental Fees 

Program Overview: 

The Illinois Land Conservation Act of 1995 established the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNTP) Rental Fees 

to be managed as part of the National Forest System. The Act authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to issue 

agricultural special use authorizations and grazing permits. These funds provide for maintenance of native plant 

communities and grassland bird habitat at the MNTP. 

Authorities: 

The Illinois Land Conservation Act of 1995 (16 U.S.C. 1609 note) (P.L. 104-106, div. B, [Title XXIX, sec. 2915 

(b), (c)], Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 601-602). The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to issue agricultural special 

use authorizations or grazing permits for purposes primarily related to erosion control, provision for food and habitat 

for fish and wildlife, or other resource management activities consistent with the purposes of the MNTP. 

After appropriate payments to the State of Illinois and Will County, pursuant to the Act of May 23, 1908, and 

Section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 500), available receipts from rental fees may be used to cover the 

cost of ecosystem restoration, prairie improvements, and administrative activities directly related to those activities. 

Quinault Special Management Area 

Program Overview: 

This program and budget line item for the Quinault Special Management Area (QSMA) is unique to the Forest 

Service. The QSMA is over 5,400 acres, as prescribed by law, which the Olympic National Forest manages for the 

Quinault Indian Nation. The distribution must be used for roads and schools. 

Authorities: 

The Act of November 8, 1988 (P.L 100-638) (102 Stat. 3327). This Act established the Quinault Special 

Management Area from part of the Olympic National Forest, and it assigns responsibility to the Forest Service for 

managing its natural resources and distributing proceeds from the sale of forest products according to provisions of 

the Act. Specifically, the lands are defined under Section 2 of the aforementioned Act. The Act authorizes 10 

percent of the gross proceeds from the sale of forest products on the QSMA are transferred to this account and are 

available for administration of future timber sales. The Act also provides for the distribution of gross receipts from a 

special management area to compensate the Quinault Indian Tribe and the State of Washington for land that the 

Forest Service gave back to the Tribe. 

Restoration of Forest Lands and Improvements 

Program Overview: 

This authority protects the interests of the Forest Service by allowing the agency to address a variety of situations. 

When work under a permit or timber sale contract is not completed by a permittee or timber purchaser, they forfeit 

their bond or deposit. These funds then transfer to the Restoration of Forest Lands and Improvements fund, allowing 

the Forest Service to complete the needed restoration and rehabilitation work. 

Authorities: 

The Act of June 20, 1958 (16 U.S.C. 579c) (P.L. 85-464, Sec. 7, June 20, 1958, 72 Stat. 217). This Act authorizes 

establishment of a fund for improvement, protection, or rehabilitation of lands under the administration of the 

Forest Service. This fund receives monies from: (a) forfeiture of a bond or deposit by a permittee or timber 

purchaser for failure to complete performance of improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work required 

under the permit or timber sale contract; or (b) the result of a judgment, compromise, or settlement of any 

claim, involving present or potential damage to lands or improvements. Funds are available until expended to 
141 

cover the costs of performing the required work. Any funds received in excess of the amount expended in 

performing the work shall be transferred to miscellaneous receipts. 

Commercial Filming and Still Photography Land Use Fee Retention 

Program Overview: 

Fees retained by the Forest Service in this fund are used to manage and respond to film/photo use requests in an 

expedited manner. For example, forest units use these funds to assess popular film/photo locations in advance of 

requests and to develop and post information on film/photo procedures specific to the unit. Regional and national 

units use these funds to provide management oversight, develop policy, and coordinate inter-regional or inter-forest 

film/photo requests prior to accepting a proposal as a formal application. 

Authorities: 

The Act of May 26, 2000 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6d) (P. L. 106-206). This Act authorizes retention of fees collected for 

commercial filming and photography land use authorizations and obligation of the monies for maintenance of 

the filming site. Land use fees are based on a schedule to use and occupy National Forest System land for 

filming/photo activities. This fee is separate from the cost recovery fee to process applications and to monitor 

the authorization for compliance with the commercial filming permit. 

Organizational Camps Program 

Program Overview: 

Organizational camp fees are based on a percentage of the agricultural land value, adjusted downward for services 

provided to disabled individuals and at-risk youth. Fees collected are available until expended for program 

administration, monitoring special use authorizations, interpretive programs, environmental analysis and restoration 

activities, and similar purposes. The Forest Service administers approximately 300 permits for organizational camps. 

Authorities: 

National Forest Organizational Camp Fee Improvement Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6231 et seq.) (P.L. 108-7). This Act 

defines an organizational camp as a public or semipublic camp developed by a nonprofit or government entity 

to introduce young people or people with disabilities to activities they might not otherwise experience and to 

educate them on natural resource issues. The Act establishes a land use fee system for organizational camps 

located on NFS lands and authorizes the Secretary to retain and spend these fees without further appropriation. 

The Act also exempts certain ministerial actions from the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Cost Recovery (Land Uses) 

Program Overview: 

Cost Recovery Lands Major Projects are all recreation and non-recreation land uses that require more than 50 

hours of agency time to process or monitor. Uses involving construction/reconstruction are deemed to be 

Major Categories for which the agency collects all appropriate administrative costs. Cost Recovery Lands Minor 

Projects are, all non-recreation land uses not subject to exemption or waiver that require 50 hours or less of 

agency time to process or monitor. These projects are deemed Minor Categories. These categories use a flat fee 

schedule established in four different tiers, subject to annual indexing. 

Authorities: 

Special Use Application and Permit Monitoring Fees (Recovery of Costs). P.L. 106-113, Interior and Related 

Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, Section 331 (113 Stat. 1501A-196 - 197), as amended by P.L. 108-447, 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Division E, Section 345 (118 Stat. 3105), P.L. 109-54, Interior, 
142 

Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, Section 425 (119 Stat. 555), P.L. 110-161 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 and P.L. 113-6 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 

2013. This Act provides authority through September 30, 2013, to implement a pilot program to improve 

customer service to applicants and holders of special land use authorizations and reduce the agency’s backlog 

of expired authorizations. 

Forest Service Administration of Rights-of-Way and Land uses; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-

76). This Act provides permanent authority to retain and spend fees as originally authorized under Section 331 

of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (as enacted into law by 

section 1000(a)(3) of Public Law 106–113; 16 U.S.C. 497 note). 

Numerous Federal statutes authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to assess and collect fees from applicants for, and 

holders of, special use authorizations. These fees pay for the agency’s administrative costs to process and monitor 

applications for such authorizations. These authorities include the Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1952 

(P.L. 82-137); Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (P.L. 66-146); and the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-579). 

Licensee Program Smokey Bear 

Program Overview: 

The Smokey Bear program supports national initiatives, programs, and products that help increase public awareness 

in regard to wildfire prevention. The licensee contractor manages the marketing and administration of the 

commercial license program, and receives 35 percent of the royalties collected for its services. The national wildfire 

prevention Branch Chief manages the licensing contract. Smokey Bear royalties also support the National Smokey 

Bear Award program and the national wildfire prevention public service campaign. The Chief of the Forest Service 

has discretionary authority to use money from royalties in special projects, such as Smokey Bear birthday 

celebrations, that support the Smokey Bear wildfire prevention message. 

Authorities: 

P.L. 82-359, CH. 327, 16 U.S.C. 580 p-2), (18 U.S.C. 711), (P.L. 93-318). Fees for the use of the Smokey Bear 

character by private enterprises are collected under regulations formulated by the Secretary of Agriculture. They are 

available to further the nationwide forest fire prevention campaign. 

Licensee Program Woodsy Owl 

Program Overview: 

(16 U.S.C. 580 p-1) (formerly classified as 31 U.S.C. 488a, 488b-3, 488b-6) (18 U.S.C. 711a). Fees for using the 

Woodsy Owl character by private enterprises are collected under regulations formulated by the Secretary of 

Agriculture. They are available to promote wise use of the environment and programs that foster maintenance and 

improvement of environmental quality. 

Forest Service Go Green Program (Conservation) 

Program Overview: 

The Forest Service promoted the implementation of the “Go Green” program on the national forests and grasslands 

in FY 2009 to help meet the agency’s recycling and waste reduction goals. Go Green funds are collected not only 

from recycling simple items such as cans, but also from recycling abandoned vehicles and appliances which makes 

this funding essential for land management. This funding enables field units to also accomplish clean-up activities 

they otherwise might not be able to accomplish. 

In FY 2018, we anticipate our Go Green program will continue to grow given increasing awareness through our 

Sustainable Operations peer learning series. 
143 

Authorities: 

Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002, authorizes Federal agencies to receive and use 

revenue resulting from waste prevention and recycling programs. Such revenue shall be available until expended for 

the purpose of waste reduction, prevention, and recycling programs. 

Accountable property is excluded from this program, which includes all capital leases and all owned personal 

property having an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more. Excess property, such as electronics and other personal 

property that is not considered accountable property, follows an initial screening by U.S. Department of Agriculture 

agencies which determines if the property is eligible for donation, to be transferred to another government agency, 

or to be recycled. Other items excluded from the scope of this program are Forest Service and General Services 

Administration vehicles, which also have disposal/excess rules in place. 

Conveyance of Administrative Sites 

Program Overview: 

The Administrative Site Conveyances Program allows the agency to convey unneeded administrative sites and retain 

the proceeds for building maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction. The program provides for the realignment of 

the agency’s facility portfolio by providing an incentive for local managers to liquidate obsolete or underutilized 

assets and reinvest in assets that best support the agency’s mission. This authority provides the opportunity to 

efficiently address current and future needs, reduce annual lease costs, and reduce the deferred maintenance backlog. 

Authorities: 

Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005, (FSFREA), Title V of the Department of the 

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-54). This Act provided authority 

through September 30, 2008, to convey unneeded administrative sites and retain the proceeds for building 

maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction provided certain criteria contained in Title V are met. This 

authority was subsequently extended through September 30, 2016. 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. 112-74, Title IV, Sec. 421). This Act amends Section 503(f) of the 

Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005 (Title V of the Department of the Interior, 

Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, P.L. 109-54; 16 U.S.C. 580d note), as amended 

by section 422(1) of Public Law 111-8 (123 Stat. 748), by extending authorization to September 30, 2016. As 

of this writing FSFREA has not been extended past FY 2016. 

Revenues received from the sale of land or structures are deposited into the Sisk Act Fund and are available without 

further appropriation. 

Site-Specific Lands Acts 

Program Overview: 

This program enables the collection of receipts from the sale of National Forest System land pursuant to 

special acts passed by Congress. The proceeds are used for specific improvements to lands and facilities within 

the same national forest or State. 

Authorities: 

Sisk Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 484a; P.L. 90-171). The Sisk Act is an exchange authority that allows certain 

parties to deposit cash, in lieu of land, to complete a land exchange. The funds are then utilized by the Secretary to 

acquire non-Federal properties. Subsequently, other authorities have specified that the Sisk Act account be utilized 

to hold other proceeds until expended, consistent with the legislation. Revenues received from the sale of land or 

structures are deposited into the Sisk Act Fund and are available without further appropriation for the purpose(s) 

specified in the statutes. 
144 

Payments to States 

Status of Programs 

National Forest Fund Payments to States Available, Title I & III 

Current Activities: 

The National Forest Fund Payment to States Available is an account where all receipts that were projected to be 

used for Title I and Title III payments under Secure Rural Schools Act (SRS Act) Payments for States were 

deposited. These funds, combined with a Payments to States U.S. Treasury transfer, were the source of payments to 

States under the SRS Act. Without Congressional reauthorization of the SRS Act, the Forest Service reverts to 

making payments to States under the Act of May 23, 1908, commonly called 25 percent payments, beginning with 

2016 payments made in 2017(the program has a one-year lag in timing or payments). 

Twenty-five Percent Payment 

Current Activities: 

Without Congressional reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (SRS 

Act), the Forest Service reverts to making payments to States under the 1908 Act, commonly called 25 percent 

payments, beginning with 2016 payments made in 2017 (the program has a one-year lag in timing of payments. The 

Forest Service processed a 2016 payment to each State in March of 2017. The 1908 Act payments distributed in 

2017 totaled $54.2 million, and the Act directs that States shall use these payments for schools and roads. 

Payments to Minnesota Counties 

Current Activities: 

This authority derives from the Thye-Blatnick Act of June 22, 1948, as amended (16 U.S.C. 577g), Payment for 

Additional Lands Acquired in Northern Minnesota. This Act directed the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire resorts, 

cabins, and private lands within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and permanent residents were 

prohibited after 1974. Additionally, in-lieu-of-tax payments were authorized to Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties 

for Federal wilderness land from any national forest receipts not otherwise appropriated. At the close of each fiscal 

year, the State of Minnesota is paid three-fourths of one percent of the appraised value of certain Superior National 

Forest lands in the counties of St. Louis, Cook, and Lake for distribution to those counties. The land value is 

reappraised every 10-years. New appraisals were last completed in 2008. A post-sequestration reduction payment of 

for 2016 over $5.7 million was transmitted to the State of Minnesota in March of 2017 (the program has a one-year 

lag in timing of payments). 

Payments to Counties, Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act 

Current Activities: 

This authority derives from Title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of July 22, 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 

1012). This Act pertains primarily to national grasslands and land use projects. Annual payments are authorized to 

counties that contain Forest Service lands acquired under the Bankhead-Jones Act. Twenty-five percent of the 

revenues received during the year, excluding receipts from the sale of land, from each national grassland or land 

utilization project are paid to the counties in which such lands are located. The funds are restricted to uses that 

benefit public schools and roads. A post-sequestration reduction payment for 2016 of over $13.6 million was 

transmitted to eligible States in April of 2017 (the program has a one-year lag in timing of payments). 
145 

Secure Payments for States (SRS), Title II 

Current Activities: 

The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 500) originally 

authorized through FY 2006 as P.L. 106-393, provided choices to counties to either receive a guaranteed level of 

annual payments for roads and schools and other authorized purposes, as well as funding for specific resource 

improvement projects on the national forest where the county is located, or to receive payments under the Act of 

May 23, 1908. This Act has not been reauthorized and as required by law the Forest Service reverts to making 

payments to States under the Act of May 23, 1908, beginning with the 2017 payment year. The deadline for the 

Secretary to obligate the Title II funds is September 30, 2018. 

Projects to benefit federal lands: Title II unobligated funds were used by the Forest Service to carry out projects in 

eligible counties to further protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and other resource 

objectives consistent with the purposes of the SRS Act on Federal land and on non-Federal land where projects 

would benefit the resources on Federal land. Title II funds were used for projects such as active forest management, 

road maintenance, trail maintenance, invasive weed control, restoration of wildlife habitat, streams and watersheds, 

as well as opportunities to promote youth and volunteer engagement in our national forests and grasslands. 

SRS Resource Advisory Committees: 

The SRS program was evaluated by the USDA Office of Inspector General beginning in 2015, with the final report 

issued in August of 2017. This evaluation found initially that of Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) nationwide, 

52 of the established 117 RACs (44 percent) did not have the required number of members to reach a quorum and 

therefore were unable to review and recommend Title II projects. The number of RACs with quorums did improve 

throughout 2017, but the process of achieving quorums remained a challenge. 

In response to these findings the agency notes that the RAC member appointment process is in part a USDAdirected process that is beyond the authority of Forest Service to streamline, but Forest Service will take steps to 

work with USDA to reduce timeframes for vetting requests, provide additional outreach resources and training to all 

SRS RAC points of contact, and provide additional one-on-one consultation to RACs as needed; if SRS is 

reauthorized. 

 
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147 

Trust Funds 

Lead-Off Tabular Statement 

Current Law 

Budget Estimate, 2019 .................................................................................................................. $106,000,000

2018 Annualized Continuing Resolution ...................................................................................... 115,000,000

Change in Appropriation .............................................................................................................. -9,000,0000

Project Statements 

Adjusted Appropriation Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Mandatory Appropriations:

Cooperative Work - Knutson-Vandenberg...................... $210,522 367 $73,115 543 $61,803 543 -$8,803 - $53,000 543 

Cooperative Work - Other................................................... 216 84,187 37,163 210 24,383 210 -1,383 - 23,000 210 

Reforestation Trust Fund.................................................... 158 30,000 30,000 141 30,000 141 - - 30,000 141 

Land Between the Lakes Trust Fund................................ - 92 92 - - - - - - - 

Total Adjusted Approp.......................................................... 324,801 741 140,370 894 116,186 894 -10,186 - 106,000 894

Rescissions, Transfers, and Seq. (Net)................................ -400 - -4,413 - -1,186 - +1,186 - - -

Total Appropriation............................................................. 324,401 741 135,957 894 115,000 894 -9,000 - 106,000 894

Adjustment for Change in Uncollected Payments a/......... -2,386 - -510 - - - - - - - 

Sequestration........................................................................... 400 - 4,413 - 1,186 - -1,186 - - - 

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. 147,261 - 339,828 - 184,320 - -46,914 - 137,406 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... 3,268 - 8,151 - - - - - - -

Total Available..................................................................... 472,945 741 487,839 894 300,506 894 -57,100 - 243,406 894

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. -339,828 - -184,320 - -137,406 - +57,100 - -80,306 -

Total Obligations..................................................................... 741 133,117 303,519 894 163,100 894 - - 163,100 894 

a/ FY 2016 updated to include adjustment for change in uncollected payments

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec.

 2019 President's 

Budget 
148 

Obligations Detail and Staff Years (SYs) 

(Dollars in thousands)

Status of Programs 

Cooperative Work - Knutson-Vandenberg 

Current Activities: 

This program uses funds derived from timber sale revenues to accomplish improvement work within the 

timber sale area. Planned resource project work is documented in the sale area improvement plans as 

determined by the project environmental analysis. The first priority for K-V program funds is reforestation of 

harvested areas. These funds can also be used to perform timber stand improvement and protection, and for the 

improvement of other resource values, including wildlife, soil, watershed, range, and recreation. 

Authorities: 

The Act of June 9, 1930, (16 USC 576b) (P.L. 71-319, Ch. 416, June 9, 1930, 46 Stat. 527, as amended by P.L. 94-

588, 1976, and P.L. 109-54, [Title IV, Sec. 412], Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 551). The act, known as the KnutsonVandenberg Act, established a special fund to collect a portion of timber sale receipts to pay for reforesting the area 

from which the timber was cut. The act was amended in 1976 to allow the Forest Service to use these funds for other 

sale area improvement activities. The FY 2006 Interior Appropriations Act amended this authority to allow for the 

expenditure of unused funds, not needed to accomplish work on the sale area, on other areas “within the Forest 

Service region in which the timber sale occurred.” 

Cooperative Work, Other 

Current Activities: 

The Cooperative Work, Other fund is used to collect deposits received from partners and cooperators for protecting 

and improving resources of the National Forest System (NFS) as authorized by cooperative agreements. The 

deposits are for a wide variety of activities that benefit and support programs in Forest and Rangeland Research. 

Authorities: 

The Act of June 30, 1914 (16 U.S.C. 498). This act authorizes the acceptance of contributions for cooperative work 

in forest investigations, protection, management, and improvement of the National Forest System. 

Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs Amount SYs

Mandatory Obligations:

Cooperative Work - Knutson-Vandenberg...................... $57,722 367 $230,402 543 $90,000 543 - - $90,000 543 

Cooperative Work - Other................................................... 43,744 216 42,507 210 43,000 210 - - 43,000 210 

Reforestation Trust Fund.................................................... 31,569 158 30,487 141 30,000 141 - - 30,000 141 

Land Between the Lakes Trust Fund................................ 82 - 123 - 100 - - - 100 - 

Total Obligations.................................................................. 133,117 741 303,519 894 163,100 894 - - 163,100 894 

Bal. Available, EOY................................................................. - 339,828 184,320 - 137,406 - -$57,100 - 80,306 - 

Total Available..................................................................... 472,945 741 487,839 894 300,506 894 -57,100 - 243,406 894

Adjustment for Change in Uncollected Payments............. 2,386 - 510 - - - - - - - 

Sequestration........................................................................... -400 - -4,413 - -1,186 - +1,186 - - -

Bal. Available, SOY................................................................. -147,261 - -339,828 - -184,320 - +46,914 - -137,406 - 

Recoveries, Other (Net).......................................................... -3,268 - -8,151 - - - - - - - 

Total Appropriation............................................................. 741 324,401 135,957 894 115,000 894 -9,000 - 106,000 894 

 2019 President's 

Program 2016 Actual 2017 Actual 2018 Annualized CR Inc. or Dec. Budget 
149 

The Granger-Thye Act of April 24, 1950 (16 U.S.C. 572). This act authorizes cooperation with other parties to 

perform work for permittees, agencies, organizations, and persons for the kinds of work that the Forest Service is 

authorized to do on lands of the United States. 

The Roads and Trails Act of October 13, 1964 (16 U.S.C. 532-537). This act authorizes the construction of roads 

using cooperative financing from other agencies. 

The Act of June 30, 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1643). This act authorizes the acceptance and use of donated funds for research 

activities. 

The Act of October 10, 1978 (7 U.S.C. 2269). This act authorizes agencies within the USDA to accept donations for 

non-research activities. 

The Act of June 6, 1968 (16 U.S.C. 693d). This act authorizes cooperation in the operation of the Robert S. Kerr 

Memorial Arboretum and Nature Center. 

The Act of July 4, 1968 (16 U.S.C. 471h). This act authorizes cooperation in the operation of the Cradle of Forestry. 

Title 31, United States Code, section 1321 (31 U.S.C. 1321). Section 1321 of Title 31 of the United States Code 

authorizes Trust Funds. 

Land Between the Lakes Trust Fund 

Current Activities: 

The Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is an area in western Kentucky and Tennessee. The Land Between the Lakes 

Protection Act authorized this area to be managed as a unit of the National Forest System. Section 531 of the Act 

established a special interest-bearing fund known as the LBL trust fund, to be available for public education, grants, 

and internships related to recreation, conservation, and multiple-use land management as well as regional promotion 

in cooperation with development districts, chambers of commerce, and State and local governments. 

Authorities: 

Land Between the Lakes Protection Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 460lll-31) (P.L. 105-277, div. A, Sec. 101(e) [Title V, 

Sec. 531], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-317). This act establishes the LBL Trust fund. In accordance with Title V 

of the act, responsibility for the LBL National Recreation Area transferred from the Tennessee Valley Authority 

(TVA) to the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Reforestation Trust Fund 

Current Activities: 

A maximum of $30 million is transferred to the Reforestation Trust Fund by the U.S. Treasury each fiscal year to 

reduce the backlog in reforestation and timber stand improvement work. Reforestation activities include site 

preparation for planting or seeding of the appropriate tree species, site preparation to encourage natural regeneration, 

and certification of acres naturally regenerated without the need of site preparation. In addition, as part of the 

reforestation activity, various treatments are applied to improve initial seedling survival rates. 

Authorities: 

Reforestation, Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Act of 1980, Title III, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1606a(d)) 

P.L. 96-451. This act established the Reforestation Trust fund. 

 
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151 

Special Exhibits 

Biomass and Wood Innovations 

Forest Service Funding for Wood Products, Wood Energy, and 

The Wood Education and Resource Center 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Activity Budget Line Item FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 President’s 

Budget 

Wood Innovations 

Program 

Geographically Target 

Wood Utilization Hazardous Fuels $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 

Wood Innovation Grants Hazardous Fuels 8,450 8,450 8,450 

Other Market 

Development (Wood 

Products/Wood Energy) 

Hazardous Fuels 550 5,550 5,550 

Subtotal, Wood 

Innovation Program Hazardous Fuels 10,000 15,000 15,000 

Biomass Production Forest Products 5,000 4,250 4,250 

Bioenergy & Biobased 

Products Research 

Research and 

Development 11,757 10,165 10,034 

Wood Education and 

Resource Center 

(WERC) 

Working Forest 

Lands1

, Urban 

Forestry, Forest 

Health, National Fire 

Capacity2

 and 

Hazardous Fuels3

960 960 960 

Subtotal Biomass 

Production 17,717 15,375 15,244 

Total 27,717 30,375 30,244 

1Previously Forest Stewardship Program. 

2Previously State Fire Assistance. 3A mix of funds is provided to the Wood Education and Resource Center to address hardwood industry issues related to the 35-

State eastern hardwood region and to develop markets for underutilized hardwoods and softwoods in the region. 

FY 2019 

The Forest Service’s emphasis on innovative wood and fiber products and bioenergy encourages market 

development for under-utilized woody material, also referred to as biomass. The work planned for FY 2019 is 

structured around the Forest Service Wood Innovations Program and research to develop innovative new 

technologies to use woody biomass. The agency will continue to support and develop innovations in biomass 

utilization and practices that benefit forest management activities. The following describes the work to be 

accomplished. 

Biomass Production 

In FY 2019, the National Forest System will continue to provide material for biomass markets as a by-product of 

restoration work. 

In FY 2017, the agency sold a similar level of biomass as in previous years, making around 2.1 million green tons 

(fresh cut woody material at a “green” moisture content of half water and half woody material) of biomass available 

for bioenergy markets. Production and sales in several Forest Service regions went down due to market fluctuations; 

however, this was offset by an increase of 26 percent in Region 5 (California). The agency expects biomass 
152 

production in California to expand further in FY 2019 due to State legislation (SB 859) that requires utilities to 

purchase a minimum amount of bioenergy from wood harvested from high fire-hazard zones. 

The National Forest System will continue to work with State & Private Forestry, Forest Service Research and 

Development (R&D) and the USDA Farm Service Agency Biomass Crop Assistance Program to grow markets and 

infrastructure for biomass production and utilization across the country. 

Bioenergy and Biobased Products Research 

The agency will continue to provide increasingly accurate national and regional feedstock availability projections; 

models to assist biorefineries and forest products manufacturing facility site selection; sustainable management 

systems and feedstocks for biorefineries; logistics and decision support tools for forest operation and transport 

efficiency; integrated models of land use patterns and bioenergy markets; and life cycle analysis and assessment 

tools. 

The agency has conducted research in the deconstruction of woody biomass; conversion technology to convert 

biomass to biofuels, chemicals, and renewable polymers; and in science and technology to incorporate biomass, 

chemicals, and renewable polymers into end products. Bio-based product research targets opportunities to open new 

high-tech markets for biomass in tall buildings, plastics, food, light-weight materials, electronics, oil drilling, and 

biomedical tools. 

Wood Innovations Program 

In 2014, the Forest Service established the Wood Innovations Program to strategically expand wood products and 

wood energy markets that support forest management and deliver economic and environmental benefits to 

communities. By providing technical assistance, funding, and high quality data, this work helps inform business 

decisions. Wood Innovations Grants fund diverse stakeholders across the country, such as States, Tribes, businesses, 

local governments, and non-profits. The maximum for each grant is generally $250,000 and all grantees must match 

at least 50 percent of the requested Federal funds. This competitive funding opportunity will continue in 2019. 

Through Wood Innovations, 22 States have established Statewide Wood Energy Teams and six States have also 

entered into cooperative agreements with the Forest Service to establish Statewide Wood Utilization Teams 

designed to expand traditional and innovative wood products. This funding has leveraged substantial private 

investment, created local jobs, supported forest health priorities, and improved local economies through conversion 

of certain facilities to wood energy. These teams have been extremely effective in identifying successful 

opportunities in the highest priority areas of each State. 

The agency continues to expand the use of wood in the commercial building sector. Engineered wood products such 

as cross-laminated timber (CLT) for commercial high-rise buildings are opening extensive new markets, which have 

the potential to produce significant benefits related to the reduction of costs for hazardous fuels reduction and forest 

restoration. In addition to various Wood Innovation grants supporting the development of this sector, the Forest 

Service has provided funding to Woodworks, an organization which has played an invaluable role in helping 

architects, engineers, and developers understand how to take advantage of this significant opportunity. The agency 

anticipates a dramatic increase in the expansion of CLT use in commercial building construction in the United 

States. 

Wood Education and Resource Center 

The Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) in Princeton, West Virginia was founded by legislation in 1999. 

WERC focuses on primary and secondary wood processing, woody biomass utilization using multidisciplinary 

approaches, efficient utilization of urban tree removals, and partnerships to solve forest products-related issues. 

The WERC programs help maintain and improve wood industry productivity and competitiveness in a sustainable 

manner within the 35 States of the eastern hardwood region. Viable wood products markets enable sustainable forest 

management on private, State, Tribal, and Federal lands. 
153 

Past Performance 

The Forest Service has a long history of success in encouraging the expansion of wood products and wood energy 

markets, and continues to support this expansion. Selected accomplishments include the following: 

 In FY 2017, Forest Service awarded over $8.3 million in Wood Innovation Grants to stimulate widespread 

use of wood residues for renewable energy, wood products, and innovative commercial building materials 

to support the management of National Forest System lands and other lands with significant forest 

restoration needs, especially those with elevated hazardous fuels reduction needs. These Federal funds 

leveraged over $18 million in partner investments. 

 The WERC plays a critical role in helping forest-related businesses thrive. In FY 2017, WERC hosted 

numerous workshops or webinars primarily for industry, prepared or reviewed more than 30 wood energy 

feasibility studies for facility owners, and administered key portions of the national Wood Innovations 

funding program. 

 In FY 2017, the agency produced 2.12 million green tons of biomass from National Forest System lands for 

use in bioenergy production. 

In FY 2017, the Forest Service continued to help the USDA Farm Service Agency implement the Biomass Crop 

Assistance Program, which provides eligible farmers, ranchers, and foresters with an incentive to harvest forest and 

agricultural residues and deliver them to qualified energy facilities. The program provided transportation subsidies 

to loggers and energy facilities for the removal and delivery of biomass for energy generation. The delivery of these 

residues advanced restoration activities on National Forest System lands. 

In FY 2017, Forest Service R&D partnered with the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, universities, 

and industry to develop innovative new products from cellulose nanomaterials. One application of cellulose 

nanocrystals is close to demonstration in a concrete bridge project in Yreka, California. 

In FY 2017, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published an ISO standard on terms and 

definition for cellulose nanomaterials, which will ensure that materials, products, processes, and services are fit for 

their purpose. A Forest Service expert led the project to set this standard. 

Forest Service R&D scientists are working to develop methods to design cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings to 

six stories and beyond that will meet construction standards for stability during seismic events. 

In its ‘Waste-to-Wisdom’ initiative, Forest Service R&D scientists are collaborating with 15 regional partners to 

assess the environmental viability of converting wood waste (i.e., post-harvest residues) into viable bioenergy 

products using two near-woods bioconversion technologies, briquetting (compaction of biomass waste), and 

torrefaction (thermal process used to produce solid biofuels from streams of woody biomass residues). 

 
154 

California Tree Mortality 

Background 

This exhibit is not required by Congressional direction but is included to increase awareness of the tree mortality 

issue, which has affected California the most thus far, but is spreading to other States. 

Overview 

Between 2010 and 2016, 102 million trees died on Federal, State, Tribal, and private lands in California due to a 

severe multi-year drought coupled with dense forest conditions, high numbers of bark beetles, and a period of 

increasingly warm temperatures. An additional 27 million trees, mostly conifers, died throughout California since 

November 2016, bringing the total number of trees that have died due to drought and bark beetles to an historic 129 

million on 8.9 million acres. 

The central and southern Sierra Nevada have been the hardest hit, where 72 million of the 102 million dead trees are 

located; this includes Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and 

Kern counties. Tree mortality is most severe in the southern Sierra Nevada, with up to 80 to 100 percent tree die-off 

in some of the ponderosa and sugar pine stands. On National Forest System lands, the highest levels of mortality 

have been on the Stanislaus, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests; the Tahoe, Eldorado, and Lake Tahoe Basin 

Management Unit have also been affected, but to a lesser extent. 

The Forest Service has made tree mortality response a top priority to address removal of hazard trees and reduce risk 

to communities. The agency is an active participant in the California Governor’s Tree Mortality Task Force. 

Agency Priorities 

The magnitude of tree mortality requires the agency to prioritize treatments. The Pacific Southwest Region 

developed a triage approach in which the first priority is removing dead and dying trees to help protect the public 

and employees from falling trees and reduce wildfire risk in high hazard areas near communities and recreation 

sites, along roads, trails, and utility corridors. The second concurrent priority addresses forest density by focusing on 

forest thinning and hazardous fuels reduction. The third phase will incorporate restoration activities in the tree 

mortality areas. This tree mortality response is a long-term issue that will likely extend for more than 10 years. 

Agency Actions 

1. Accomplishments as of January 30, 2017, on the six central and southern Sierra Nevada National Forests 

Cumulative MBF* Felled 243,250 

Cumulative Acres Treated 55,200 

Acres in Progress 91,300 

 *Million board feet 

2. Hazard mitigation completed on values at risk: 

 144 communities with Hazard Tree Mitigation 

 1,375 acres of Fuel Breaks 

 111 miles of Powerlines 

 343 Recreation Sites 

 842 miles of Road 

 70 miles of Trail 

3. Dead and dying trees can be processed at forest product or biomass power facilities. The agency is working 

with facility operators to identify biomass opportunities on National Forest System lands. Seven bioenergy 

contracts authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission are required to use approximately 
155 

700,000 Bone Dry Tons (BDTs) in 2018 from mostly tree mortality High Hazard Zones, and over one 

million BDTs from 2019 through 2021. This volume will come from Federal, State, and private lands. To 

date, the Forest Service has 100,000 BDTs (40,000 MBF) of felled hazard trees that could be used for 

biomass. Decking and transportation costs from National Forest System lands that are further away from 

these facilities may be an issue to long-term viability beyond 2021. 

Historic and Current Funding 

1. Fiscal Year 2016 – The agency directed $43 million to hazard tree mitigation to help protect people and 

critical infrastructure from hazardous conditions created by dead and dying trees. 

2. Fiscal Year 2017 – The agency directed approximately $41 million to continue to address hazard tree 

mitigation around communities, recreation sites, along roads, trails, utility corridors, and other values at 

risk, resulting in an investment of $84 million over the last two fiscal years. This included forest 

operating funds of more than $14 million and an additional $18 million reprioritized from within the 

agency for tree mortality work in California. 

3. Fiscal Year 2018 – There are 37,000 acres in the High-Hazard Zones on National Forest System lands that 

have completed NEPA analysis, and treatment will be completed as additional funding is identified. In 

general, treatments cost from $1,000 to $2,500 per acre depending on terrain, proximity to infrastructure, 

and contractor availability. The Region redirected forest operating funds of approximately $13.1 for tree 

mortality work in California. To date, no additional funds have been identified for tree mortality work in 

California. 

4. Additionally, the Forest Service has invested over $35.5 million in grants in California since 2004 to help 

diversify wood and biomass markets. 

 
156 

Chief’s Reserve Fund 

Background 

This exhibit is required by P.L. 109-54, House Report 109-80, page 151, Administrative Provisions, which directed: 

“The Committee also requests that future budget justification displays on this fund include a complete presentation 

of spending from the fund during the most recent complete fiscal year, with a brief explanation why the uses were 

indeed important, unanticipated, and appropriate.” 

Overview 

The Chief’s Reserve Fund (CRF) is managed by the Chief’s Office to fund emergencies or unforeseen events that 

occur throughout the fiscal year. This reserve fund allows units to respond quickly to unplanned urgent work 

without impacting the planned program of work. 

FY 2018 Program 

At the Chief’s discretion, funds from this reserve fund are available for unplanned and/or emergency circumstances. 

Requests are evaluated against criteria including the urgent nature of the event, relevance of proposed use to 

priorities, other funding source considerations, and risks from being unfunded. Requests must be for work or 

projects exceeding $25,000. Initial fund mixes are determined at the beginning of the fiscal year, but may be 

remixed during the year to meet unanticipated needs. Funds are only spent in accordance with the purposes for 

which they were appropriated. 

FY 2016 to FY 2019 Funding 

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2016 Actual FY 2017 Actual FY 2018 

Annualized CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

$1,403 $6,429 $3,000 $3,000 

Past Performance 

In FY 2017, the CRF allocation was reduced to increase availability of funding as a part of initial allocations, which 

included funding for national priorities identified by agency leadership. This strategy is consistent with the 

leadership commitment to identify priorities early and provide authority to support prompt obligation of balances. 

A reduced amount, $1.53 million, was held in the CRF to support unplanned projects and provide additional funding 

for others. Total program amounts assessed in FY 2017 are illustrated in the table below. 

 
157 

FY 2017 Program Amounts 

(Dollars in thousands) 

FY 2017 Program Approved 

Trails $3 

Research 280 

Land Management 253 

Preparedness 478 

Suppression 406 

Pool 112 

Total 1,532 

There were no projects or initiatives funded by the Chief’s Reserve Fund in FY 2017. Unused funds are 

distributed to the Regions, Stations, and Northeastern Area as carryover in the following year. 

 
158 

Cost Pool Totals 

(both Direct and Indirect) 

Background 

This exhibit is required by P.L. 107-63, 115 Stat. 452, as follows: 

“The Forest Service shall fund indirect expenses, that are expenses not directly related to specific programs 

or to the accomplishment of specific work on-the-ground, from any funds available to the Forest Service: 

Provided, that the Forest Service shall implement and adhere to the definitions of indirect expenditures 

established pursuant to Public Law 105–277 on a nationwide basis without flexibility for modification by 

any organizational level except the Washington Office, and when changed by the Washington Office, such 

changes in definition shall be reported in budget requests submitted by the Forest Service: Provided 

further, that the Forest Service shall provide in all future budget justifications, planned indirect 

expenditures in accordance with the definitions, summarized and displayed to the Regional, Station, Area, 

and detached unit office level. The justification shall display the estimated source and amount of indirect 

expenditures, by expanded budget line item, of funds in the agency’s annual budget justification. The 

display shall include appropriated funds and the Knutson-Vandenberg, Brush Disposal, Cooperative WorkOther, and Salvage Sale funds. Changes between estimated and actual indirect expenditures shall be 

reported in subsequent budget justifications.” 

Overview 

The Forest Service receives appropriations by program and does not receive a general administration or management 

appropriation. Cost pools are not a source for funding, but are a cost allocation mechanism to charge expenses that 

cannot reasonably be charged directly to a single program such as line officers’ salaries (e.g. District Rangers) and 

expenses, leases, utilities, telephones, administrative support, information technology, human resources, computers, 

and other common services. The cost pools are designed to maintain accurate reporting of the true costs per 

program, by having each program contribute into the cost pools an amount based on its share of indirect, support, 

and common services charges. 

In addition to being a cost allocation mechanism, cost pools serve as an accounting tool, providing the Forest 

Service with financial data on categories of similar expenses. This permits the Forest Service to plan and manage 

support, indirect, and direct costs at different levels of the organization. A description of these pools and their 

associated costs are listed below. 

Cost Pool 1 - General Management 

 Employee salaries, benefits and related costs for line officers, union officials, civil rights positions, and 

safety officers. 

Cost Pool 2 - Direct Project Approved Activities 

 Employee salaries, benefits, and related costs for a limited set of nationally designated cross-cutting 

projects, currently limited to Conservation Education, Tribal Relations, Freedom of Information Act, 

Resource Advisory Council administration, and Grey Towers. 

Cost Pool 3 - Legislative and Public Communications 

 Employee salaries, benefits, and related costs for public affairs, and legislative liaison positions. 

Cost Pool 4 - Ongoing Business Services 

 Employee salaries, benefits, and related costs for business operations activities which include budget, 

finance, acquisition, human resource management, procurement, grants and agreements, general 

receptionists, and information systems management positions. 
159 

Cost Pool 5 - Common Services 

 Leases, utilities, corporate communications, office equipment, supplies, radios, and corporate computer 

related expenses for all employees. 

Other Pooled Costs 

The terms cost pool 6 and cost pool 7 have been previously used to describe the pooled costs for Office of Workers’ 

Compensation Programs (OWCP) and Unemployment Compensation Insurance (UCI) respectively. OWCP and 

UCI do not assess Forest Service programs but are for identifying funds for payments required by the Department of 

Labor. Unlike cost pools 1 through 5, these costs are charged directly to a program and then pooled to make required 

payments out of a single BLI. These pooled costs are used as methods of payment, and are not mechanisms to 

allocate costs. 

Cost Allocations 

The Forest Service allocates indirect and direct pool costs among programs through the cost allocation process, 

which assesses each Forest Service budget line item a certain percentage of total cost pool expenses. Cost pools are 

generally allocated using direct labor hours (DLH). DLH are converted to FTEs; for 2017, 1 FTE = 2,096 DLHs (the 

DLH number varies depending on the year). For cost pools 1 to 4, DLHs are used for all employees charging to 

direct costs (all employees include those holding permanent, temporary, intermittent, and other types of positions). 

This approach for Cost Pools 1 to 4 is used because these costs generally reflect the entire organization. For Cost 

Pools 5, only permanent employees DLHs are used, because these costs (rent, communication, utilities, etc.) are 

driven primarily by the need to support the permanent workforce. Because of their nature, the FTEs associated with 

supplemental, transfer, and emergency funds are dropped from the cost pools and are not used in calculating indirect 

costs. 

FY 2019 Program Changes 

FY 2016 to FY 2019 Cost Pool (1-5) Assessments 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Budget Line Item FY 2016 Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Cost Pool Assessment $955,365 $954,645 $947,430 $861,000 

Percent of Total Forest Service Budget 14.5% 15.7% 15.3% 16.6% 

Forest Service Cost Pool Exhibits 

For an estimate of FY 2019 Total Cost Pool 1-5 Assessments by Budget Line Item, see Exhibit 1. 

For a comparison of FY 2016 and FY 2017 Actual Cost Pool 1-5 Assessments and FY 2018 Estimated Cost Pool 1-

5 Assessments by Budget Line Item, see Exhibit 2. 

For a display of Cost Pool Actuals for FY 2016 and FY 2017 by Pool and Region, see Exhibit 3. 

 
160 

Exhibit 1 

 

 Estimated FY 2019 Total Cost Pool 1-5 Assessments by Budget Line Item 

 (Dollars in thousands) 

Budget Line Item (BLIs)

FY 2019 

President's 

Budget

Estimated Total 

Cost Pool 

Assessments by 

BLI

Cost Pool 

Assessments as 

Percent of BLI

Assessed as 

Percent of Total 

Cost Pools

Forest and Rangeland Research a/ $246,050 $37,275 15.1% 4.3%

Total Forest and Rangeland Research 246,050 37,275 15.1% 4.3%

Forest Health Fed Lands 51,495 9,527 18.5% 1.1%

Forest Health Coop Lands 34,376 2,527 7.4% 0.3%

Working Forest Lands b/ 19,475 1,618 8.3% 0.2%

National Fire Capacity c/ 65,930 1,818 2.8% 0.2%

Total State and Private Forestry 171,276 15,490 9.0% 1.8%

Land Mgmt Planning, Assess & Monitoring 156,750 31,507 20.1% 3.7%

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 240,236 77,278 32.2% 9.0%

Wildlife & Fisheries Habitat Management 118,750 32,780 27.6% 3.8%

Hazardous Fuels 390,000 68,739 17.6% 8.0%

Grazing Management 48,070 14,456 30.1% 1.7%

Forest Products 341,165 94,421 27.7% 11.0%

Vegetation & Watershed Management 165,680 37,815 22.8% 4.4%

Minerals and Geology Management 64,600 15,365 23.8% 1.8%

Land Use Authorization and Access d/ 65,550 16,183 24.7% 1.9%

Law Enforcement Operations 129,153 16,365 12.7% 1.9%

Total National Forest System 1,719,954 404,909 23.5% 47.0%

Preparedness 1,339,620 261,324 19.5% 30.4%

Suppression 1,165,366 96,370 8.3% 11.2%

Total Wildland Fire Management 2,504,986 357,694 14.3% 41.5%

Facilities 11,162 2,333 20.9% 0.3%

Roads 71,481 14,939 20.9% 1.7%

Trails 12,065 2,521 20.9% 0.3%

Total Capital Improvement & Maintenance 94,708 19,793 20.9% 2.3%

Land Acquisition

Total Land Acquisition 0 0 0.0% 0.0%

Brush Disposal 8,000 1,914 23.9% 0.2%

Timber Salvage Sales 36,000 8,613 23.9% 1.0%

Cooperative Work, Knutson-Vandenburg Trust Fund 53,000 9,570 18.1% 1.1%

Reforestation Trust Fund 30,000 5,742 19.1% 0.7%

Total Permanent and Trust Funds 127,000 25,839 20.3% 3.0%

TOTAL ASSESSED BLIs 4,863,974 861,000 17.7% 100.0%

Only includes appropriations (BLIs) which will be assessed for Cost Pools 1-5 in FY 2019. 

Supplemental, emergency, transfer, or Payments to States funds are not assessed for Cost Pools 1-5.

a/ Excludes National Fire Plan Appropriation

b/ Previously Forest Stewardship

c/ Previously State Fire Assistance

d/ Previously Landownership Management
161 

Exhibit 2 

 Comparison of Actual FY 2016 - FY 2017 and Estimated FY 2018 Cost Pool 1-5 Assessments by Budget Line Item 

 (Dollars in thousands) 

Budget Line Item

 Fund 

FY 2016 

Actual Cost 

Pools 1-5

Percent of 

Total FS 

Cost Pools

1-5

FY 2017 

Actual Cost 

Pools 1-5

Percent of 

Total FS 

Cost Pools

1-5

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR

Estimated 

Cost Pools

1-5

Cost Pools 

as a Percent 

of BLI

Percent of 

Total FS 

Cost Pools

1-5

Forest and Rangeland Research $39,170 4.1% $29,240 3.1% $210,078 $29,019 13.8% 3.1%

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0.0% 9,901 1.0% 76,477 9,826 12.8% 1.0%

Total Forest and Rangeland Research 39,170 4.1% 39,141 4.1% 286,555 38,845 13.6% 4.1%

Forest Health Fed Lands 9,554 1.0% 10,501 1.1% 55,123 10,422 18.9% 1.1%

Forest Health Coop Lands 4,777 0.5% 2,864 0.3% 38,735 2,842 7.3% 0.3%

Working Forest Lands a/ 1,911 0.2% 1,909 0.2% 19,900 1,895 9.5% 0.2%

Forest Legacy 955 0.1% 0 0.0% 55,524 0 0.0% 0.0%

Forest Legacy Program - Prog Admin 0 0.0% 955 0.1% 6,400 947 14.8% 0.1%

Urban and Community Forestry 1,911 0.2% 1,909 0.2% 27,850 1,895 6.8% 0.2%

International Forestry 955 0.1% 955 0.1% 7,946 947 11.9% 0.1%

Total State & Private Forestry 20,063 2.1% 19,093 2.0% 211,478 18,948 9.0% 2.0%

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 11,464 1.2% 9,546 1.0% 39,728 9,474 23.8% 1.0%

Inventory and Monitoring 29,616 3.1% 0 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0.0%

Land Management Planning 9,554 1.0% 0 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0.0%

Land Management Plan, Assessment & 0 0.0% 38,186 4.0% 181,686 37,897 20.9% 4.0%

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 81,206 8.5% 81,145 8.5% 262,798 80,532 30.6% 8.5%

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 29,616 3.1% 29,594 3.1% 139,512 33,847 24.3% 3.6%

Grazing Management 16,241 1.7% 16,229 1.7% 56,470 16,106 28.5% 1.7%

Forest Products 93,626 9.8% 89,737 9.4% 365,307 98,397 26.9% 10.4%

Vegetation and Watershed Management 33,438 3.5% 32,458 3.4% 183,462 39,407 21.5% 4.2%

Integrated Resource Restoration 27,705 2.9% 26,730 2.8% 0 0 0.0% 0.0%

Minerals and Geology Management 18,152 1.9% 17,184 1.8% 75,056 17,054 22.7% 1.8%

Land Use Authorization and Access b/ 21,018 2.2% 19,093 2.0% 73,229 18,949 25.9% 2.0%

Law Enforcement Operations 18,152 1.9% 17,184 1.8% 125,793 17,054 13.6% 1.8%

Total National Forest System 389,788 40.8% 377,086 39.5% 1,503,041 368,717 24.5% 38.9%

Preparedness 251,261 26.3% 242,480 25.4% 1,075,268 240,647 22.4% 25.4%

Suppression 80,251 8.4% 101,192 10.6% 1,239,525 100,428 8.1% 10.6%

Hazardous Fuels 63,054 6.6% 68,734 7.2% 387,352 71,633 18.5% 7.6%

National Fire Capacity c/ 1,911 0.2% 1,909 0.2% 77,470 1,895 2.4% 0.2%

Total Wildland Fire Management 396,477 41.5% 414,315 43.4% 2,779,615 414,603 14.9% 43.8%

Facilities 17,196 1.8% 15,274 1.6% 70,905 15,159 21.4% 1.6%

Roads 37,259 3.9% 36,277 3.8% 173,905 36,002 20.7% 3.8%

Trails 22,929 2.4% 22,911 2.4% 77,004 22,738 29.5% 2.4%

Legacy Roads and Trails 2,866 0.3% 2,864 0.3% 39,728 4,942 12.4% 0.5%

Total Capital Improvement & Maintenance 80,250 8.4% 77,326 8.1% 361,542 78,841 21.8% 8.3%

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0.0% 1,909 0.2% 54,045 1,895 3.5% 0.2%

Land Acquisition 1,911 0.2% 0 0.0% 0 0 0.0% 0.0%

Total Land Acquisition 1,911 0.2% 1,909 0.2% 54,045 1,895 3.5% 0.2%

Brush Disposal 2,866 0.3% 1,909 0.2% 8,000 1,895 23.7% 0.2%

Timber Salvage Sales 7,643 0.8% 8,592 0.9% 36,000 8,527 23.7% 0.9%

Coop Work, Knutson-Vandenburg Trust 12,420 1.3% 9,546 1.0% 61,000 9,474 15.5% 1.0%

Reforestation Trust Fund 4,777 0.5% 5,728 0.6% 30,000 5,685 19.0% 0.6%

Total Permanent and Trust Funds 27,706 2.9% 25,775 2.7% 135,000 25,581 18.9% 2.7%

TOTAL ASSESSED BLIs 955,365 100.0% 954,645 100.0% 5,331,276 947,430 17.8% 100.0%

Only includes appropriations for BLIs which were assessed for Cost Pools 1-5. 

Supplemental, emergency, transfer, or Payments to States funds are not assessed for Cost Pools 1-5.

Displays BLI's after transfers for the Integrated Resource Restoration pilot.

a/ Previously Forest Stewardship

b/ Previously Landownership Management

c/ Previously State Fire Assistance

FY 2016 Actual FY 2017 Actual FY 2018 Estimate
162 

Exhibit 3 

FY 2016 - FY 2017 Cost Pool Expenditures by Pool and Region 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Cost Pool FY 2016 FY 2017 

Cost Pool 1 General Management $161,720 $165,039 

Cost Pool 2 Direct Project Approved Activities 12,745 12,671 

Cost Pool 3 Legislative and Public Communications 33,233 34,145 

Cost Pool 4 Ongoing Business Services 354,833 359,522 

Cost Pool 5 Common Services 392,834 383,269 

TOTAL COST POOL EXPENDITURES 955,365 954,646 

Region/Station/Area FY 2016 FY 2017 

Region 1 Northern $39,778 $39,331 

Region 2 Rocky Mountain 34,886 34,899 

Region 3 Southwestern 39,138 38,988 

Region 4 Intermountain 38,446 38,268 

Region 5 Pacific Southwest 58,091 57,260 

Region 6 Pacific Northwest 68,000 67,692 

Region 8 Southern 42,505 41,609 

Region 9 Eastern 36,596 36,420 

Region 10 Alaska 15,983 15,728 

Region 11 Forest Products Lab 20 33 

Region 12 International Institute of Tropical Forestry 1,239 1,270 

Region 13 Washington Office-HQ a/ 77,734 82,700 

Region 14 Chief's Reserve 0 0 

Region 15 National Operations b/ 142,926 141,325 

Region 17 Accounting Adjustments 0 0 

Region 22 Rocky Mountain Research Station 78 109 

Region 24 Northern Research Station 642 859 

Region 25 Central Business Services c/ 358,036 357,188 

Region 26 Pacific Northwest Research Station 292 118 

Region 27 Pacific Southwest Research Station 26 23 

Region 33 Southern Research Station 112 85 

Region 42 Northeastern Area 837 741 

TOTAL COST POOL EXPENDITURES 955,365 954,646 

a/ Region 13 Washington Office –HQ funds support staff, programs, operations, and facilities of the National Headquarters office located in 

Washington, D.C. and units considered attached to the National Headquarters and includes the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC); NIFC 

Aircraft Working Capital Fund; Geospatial- Salt Lake City; the National Advisory Resource Technical Center; the Chief’s Office; Washington 

Office Operations and Common Services; Washington Office National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, and Research; International 

Forestry; Chief Financial Officer; Law Enforcement and Investigations; San Dimas Technology and Development Center; Missoula Technology 

b/ and Development Center; and Working Capital Fund. 

Region 15 National Operations funds are held and allocated at the national level and support work and programs nationwide such as FLAME, 

Law Enforcement, and portions of other funds including USDA Working Capital Fund National Services, National Operations, Budget and 

Finance Service Wide Cost Pools, Grey Towers, Utilities and Telecommunication Services, Facilities Maintenance Cost Pool, and other Service 

Wide Cost Pools. 

c/ Region 25 Central Business Services include Albuquerque Service Center (ASC) Budget & Finance, Human Resources, Chief 

Information Officer, ASC Leases, and Acquisition Management Support for IT & Fire. 

 
163 

Equal Access to Justice Act

Background 

This special exhibit is included to address requirements of House Report 112-151 page 8; Conference Report 112-

331, page 1046, which directed: 

“Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) Fee Payments - The Committee has learned that the Forest Service 

does not comprehensively track EAJA fee payments, identify the funds used to pay EAJA fees, nor 

routinely make this information publicly available. Accordingly, the Committee directs the Forest Service 

to provide to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and make publicly available, and with 

each agency’s annual budget submission thereafter, the following information: detailed reports on the 

amount of program funds used; the names of the fee recipients; the names of the Federal judges; the 

disposition of the applications (including any appeals of action taken on the applications); and the hourly 

rates of attorneys and expert witnesses stated in the applications that was awarded, for all EAJA fee 

payments awarded as a result of litigation against the Forest Service, or their respective employees. The 

report shall also include the information listed above for litigation relating to the Endangered Species Act 

and the amounts, outside of EAJA awards, paid in settlement for all litigation, regardless of the statute 

litigated.” 

Overview 

The Equal Access to Justice Act was enacted in 1980 to provide individuals, small businesses and non-profit 

organizations with the means to ensure Federal agencies make their decisions transparent and in accordance with 

law. Since 2009, the Forest Service has tracked the payment of both EAJA and other attorney’s fees. 

FY 2011 through FY 2017 Funding and Reporting 

In FY 2012, the Forest Service provided EAJA information to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in 

response to a request, on EAJA case names and docket/court number, the name of the award recipient, the amount of 

program funds used, and dates paid. The final EAJA report to Congress is available on the internet at the following 

link: 

http://www.fs.fed.us/aboutus/budget/requests/7105962_Equal%20Access%20to%20Justice%20Act_Letters%20and

%20Report.pdf

Subsequent EAJA information is reported the Equal Access to Justice Act Statistics table listed below. 

The Forest Service does not track and therefore cannot report on the following information: 

 the Federal judges making the awards, 

 the disposition of the applications for EAJA fees (including any appeals of action taken on the 

applications), and 

 the hourly rates of the attorneys and expert witnesses stated in the applications for which an award was 

made. 
164 

Forest Service Equal Access to Justice Act Statistics for FY 2011 through FY 2017 

Date Rec Docket, 

Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

12/21/2010 

CV 1:09-cv00003-JWS, 

D. AK 

Tongass Conservation 

Society, Sierra Club v. 

Forrest Cole Tongass 

NF, USFS, USDA 

Orion North 

Reoffer timber sale, 

Tongass NF 

Earthjustice 12/28/2010 Forest Products $53,000 

1/13/2011 

08-01185-

MHP, D. N 

Cal 

California Resources 

Agency v. USDA 

Inventoried 

Roadless Areas, CA 

NFs 

Earthjustice 2/9/2011 

Land 

Management 

Planning 

250,000 

3/10/2011 

CV-04-127-

M-DWM, D. 

Mont 

Native Ecosystems 

Inc. v. Tidwell 

Grazing Permits, 

BeaverheadDeerlodge NF 

Alliance for the 

Wild Rockies 3/11/2011 Grazing 

Management 85,000 

3/11/2011 08-01927 CW, 

D. N Cal 

Citizens for Better 

Forestry v. USDA 

National Forest 

Management Act 

Western 

Environmental 

Law Center 

3/17/2011 

Land 

Management 

Planning 

170,047 

3/11/2011 08-01927 CW, 

D. N Cal 

Citizens for Better 

Forestry v. USDA 

National Forest 

Management Act Earthjustice 3/17/2011 

Land 

Management 

Planning 

251,312 

4/6/2011 10-cv-01514-

JDB 

Public Employees for 

Environmental 

Responsibility v. 

USDA, USFS 

Cost Pools 

Public 

Employees for 

Environmental 

Responsibility 

4/8/2011 Cost Pools 1,848 

4/25/2011 CV 08-43-MDWM 

Forest Service 

Employees for 

Environmental Ethics 

v. USFS and National 

Marine Fisheries 

Service 

Fish and Wildlife 

Service. Forum on 

Wildland Urban 

inter. Attorney 

Fees only. 

Bechtold Law 

Firm PLLC 4/25/2011 Wildland Fire 

Suppression 95,000 

5/2/2011 

CV 07-1043-

JB-ACT, D. 

NM 

Wildearth Guardians 

v. USFS, New Mexico 

Cattle Growers 

Association 

Livestock grazing, 

Gila NF 

Wildearth 

Guardians 5/12/2011 Grazing 

Management 27,500 

5/25/2011 CV 09-164-NEJL, D. ID 

The Lands Council v. 

Leslie Weldon Region 

1, Ranotta MaNair 

Idaho Panhandle NF, 

USFS 

Bussel 484, Idaho 

Panhandle NF 

Public Interest 

Defense 6/9/2011 Forest Products 50,064 

5/26/2011 5:08-CV00091-TBR 

Forest Service 

Employees for 

Environmental Ethics 

v. USFS 

Continued 

Maintenance of 

Open Lands, Land 

Between the Lakes 

Bechtold Law 

Firm PLLC 5/26/2011 

Land Between 

the Lakes 

Management 

Fund 

29,400 

6/13/2011 09-cv-00160-

DWM 

Alliance for the Wild 

Rockies v. Paul 

Bradford Kootenai NF 

Grizzly Vegetation 

and Transportation 

Management 

Project 

Public Interest 

Defense 6/16/2011 Timber Salvage 

Sales 28,000 

6/20/2011 05-107M 

(DWM) 

Rock Creek Alliance 

v. USFS 2001 EIS Western Mining 

Action Project 6/22/2011 

Minerals & 

Geology 

Management 

186,500 

7/25/2011 08-1067-JCC 

Conservation 

Northwest v. Harris 

Sherman and D.R. 

Johnson Lumber Co. 

EIS Survey and 

Manage Mitigation 

Measure Standards 

and Guidelines, 

2007 Supplement 

Western 

Environmental 

Law Center 

7/27/2011 Forest Products 155,555 

9/8/2011 CV F 09-392 

LJO 

Sequoia Forestkeeper 

v. USFS 

Special Use Permit 

to Robert Sellers 

and Quarter Circle 

Five Ranch 

Paul Hastings 

LLP 9/13/2011 Landownership 

Management 74,640 
165 

Date Rec Docket, 

Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

9/8/2011 CV F 09-392 

LJO 

Sequoia Forestkeeper 

v. USFS 

Special Use Permit 

to Robert Sellers 

and Quarter Circle 

Five Ranch 

Rene Voss 9/13/2011 Landownership 

Management 13,800 

Subtotal FY 2011 1,471,666 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

10/6/2011 10-cv-01514-

JDB 

Public Employees for 

Environmental 

Responsibility v. 

USDA, USFS 

56 RPM Equal 

Access to Justice 

(PD) 

Public 

Employees for 

Environmental 

Responsibility 

10/11/2011 Cost Pools $1,848 

1/27/2012 10-cv-6337-TC Cascadia Wildlands v. 

USFS 

 56 RPM Equal 

Access to Justice 

(PD) 

Daniel Kruse 1/30/2012 

Forest Products 

56,500 

2/15/2012 2:10-cv-02830-

WBS 

Center for Biological 

Diversity v. Mike 

Crawley, USFS 

Motor vehicle use 

on Bridgeport 

Ranger District 

Center for 

Biological 

Diversity 

2/16/2012 Roads 9,000 

3/6/2012 CV 09-107-M 

Alliance for the Wild 

Rockies v. Leslie 

Weldon, USFS 

Rat Creek Salvage 

Western 

Environmental 

Law Center 

3/6/2012 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

53,000 

5/29/2012 CV 07-39-MDWM 

Montana Wilderness 

Association v. Vicki 

Christiansen, USFS 

NFRW11 MWSA 

EAJA FEES 2012 

& CMTL11 MWA 

EAJA BILL 

Earthjustice 6/4/2012 

Recreation, 

Wilderness, & 

Wild and 

Scenic Rivers 

137,000 

6/14/2012 CV 08-92-

DWM 

Native Ecosystems 

Council and Alliance 

for the Wild Rockies. 

Smith Creek 

Creek Vegetation 

Treatment 

Bechtold Law 

Firm 6/19/2012 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

48,489 

7/5/2012 3:09-CV03048 

Wilderness Society v. 

US DOI 

West-Wide Energy 

Corridors Earthjustice 7/5/2012 Landownership 

Management 10,000 

8/8/2012 10-CV-00026 

Idaho Conservation 

League and The 

Wilderness Society v. 

Frank Guzman and 

USFS 

Travel Management 

Plan for the SalmoChallis NF Earthjustice 8/10/2012 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

90,000 

8/22/2012 11-VC-830-

RCC 

Defenders of Wildlife 

v. USFS Hardshell Project Defenders of 

Wildlife 8/28/2012 

Minerals and 

Geology 

Management 

10,500 

9/18/2012 09-CV-131 

CW Sierra Club v. USFS 

Ogden Ranger 

District's Motorized 

Travel Plan 

Western Wildlife 

Conservancy 9/18/2012 

Recreation, 

Wilderness, & 

Wild and 

Scenic Rivers 

69,027 

Subtotal FY 2012 485,364 
166 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

10/11/2012 No.10-2039-

WHA CV-10-2039 

Orleans Community 

Fuels Reduction 

(OCFR) & Forest 

Health 

Marianne Dugan 10/11/2012 Hazardous 

Fuels $30,000 

1/7/2013 CV-11-125-MDWM 

Friends of the Wild 

SWAN 

Colt Summit NEPA 

Litigation 

Western 

Environmental 

Law 

1/18/2013 

Land 

Management 

Planning 

 40,000 

2/12/2013 12-CV-286-

BLW 

Advocates for the 

West Inc. 

 Grazing 

Management 

Advocates for 

the West Inc. 2/12/2013 Wildlife & Fish 

Management 52,000 

2/28/2013 CV-01477-

GEB-CMK 

Californians for 

Alternatives to Toxics 

Paiute Cutthroat 

Trout Restoration 

Western 

Environmental 

Law 

3/1/2013 Wildlife & Fish 

Management 8,000 

2/28/2013 CV 11-99-MDWM Native Ecosystems 

 Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

Rebecca Smith 3/1/2013 Wildlife & Fish 

Management 33,279 

2/28/2013 CV 11-99-MDWM Native Ecosystems 

 Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

Tim Berchtold 3/1/2013 Wildlife & Fish 

Management 13,598 

3/1/2013 CV-1212-CL Oregon Natural Desert 

Assoc. 

Environment & 

Natural Resources 

Advocates for 

the West Inc. 3/1/2013 Wildlife & Fish 

Management 137,000 

5/9/2013 CV-00048-

WJM 

National Ski Areas 

Assn. Inc. 

Natural Resources 

& Environment 

Ducker 

Montgomery 

Lewis /Bess, 

Williams & 

Weese, P.C. 

5/9/2013 

Recreation, 

Wilderness, & 

Wild and 

Scenic Rivers 

 125,000 

5/23/2013 10-CV-01797-

JCC Wilderness Watch 

Glacier Peak 

Wilderness Are. 

Green Mountain 

Lookout. 

Wilderness 

Watch 5/24/2013 Facilities 70,804 

5/23/2013 12-CV-01757-

TC 

Central Oregon 

LandWatch 

Bend Waterpipe 

Deschutes NF 

Central Oregon 

LandWatch 5/24/2013 

Vegetation & 

Watershed 

Management, 

Wildlife & Fish 

Management 

 66,350 

6/18/2013 08-CV-1460 

PJH Watersheds Project Western 

Watersheds Project 

Advocates for 

the West Inc. 6/19/2013 Grazing 

Management 264,358 

6/18/2013 08-CV-1460 

PJH Watersheds Project Western 

Watersheds Project 

Keher and Van 

Nest LLP 6/19/2013 Grazing 

Management 172,703 

9/10/2013 09-cv-01272-

WJM WildEarth Guardians 

Email sent 09/18/13 

requesting FS-6500-

224 

WildEarth 

Guardians 9/18/2013 

Vegetation & 

Watershed 

Management 

 141,886 

9/11/2013 11-CV-95-

BLW Idaho Rivers United Idaho Rivers United Advocates for 

the West Inc. 9/14/2013 

Roads, Wildlife 

& Fish 

Management 

 45,500 

9//19/2013 11-CV-23-PK Hells Canyon 

Preservation Council 

Grazing CE's Hells 

Canyon 

Hells Canyon 

Preservation 

Council 

9/17/2013 

Recreation, 

Wilderness, & 

Wild and 

Scenic Rivers 

 136,500 

9/24/2013 09-cv-2523-

LKK-JFM 

Center for Sierra 

Nevada Conservation 

National Forest 

Management 

Act/Endangered 

Species Act 

Bahr Law 

Offices, P.C. 9/25/2013 Trails 110,000 
167 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

9/25/2013 10-cv-00612-

EJL-REB 

Western Watersheds 

Project 

FC #7600034286 

created & posted 

09/25/13 - Waiting 

for final settlement 

approval amount to 

pay 

Advocates for 

the West Inc. 11/14/2013 Hazardous Fuels 125,000 

9/5/2013 11-cv-02921-

MCE-DAD 

Snowlands Network, 

Winter Wildlands 

Alliance & Center for 

Biological Diversity 

Over snow vehicle 

(OSV) recreation 

Advocates for 

the West Inc. 9/6/2013 

Vegetation & 

Watershed 

Management 

15,000 

Subtotal FY 2013 1,586,978 

Date Rec Docket, 

Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

9/25/2013 10-cv-00612-

EJL-REB 

Western Watersheds 

Project 

Western 

Watersheds 

Project 

Advocates for 

the West Inc. 11/14/2013 

Hazardous 

Fuels 

Reduction 

$125,000 

1/10/2014 3-11-CV-895-

ST 

Friends of the Columbia 

Gorge Inc. 

Special 

Management Area 

Friends of the 

Columbia Gorge 

Inc. 

1/10/2014 Land 

Management 

Planning, & 

Landownership 

Management 

 17,855 

3/14/2014 CV-12-27-MDLC 

Native Ecosystems for 

the Wild Rockies 

Fleecer Mountains 

Project 

Public Interest 

Defense 3/19/2014 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

 

19,802 

3/19/2014 CV-10-2141 Breaker- Attorney's 

Fees Martin Breaker Siegel Brill P.A 

Trust 3/21/2014 Landownership 

Management 

 

155,000 

3/21/2014 13-CV-1827-

CL 

Murphy Co High 

Cascade Inc. 

Stipulation for 

Temporary Stay of 

Proceedings 

American Forest 

Resource 

Council 

3/24/2014 Forest Products 

7,500 

4/24/2014 13-CV-01157-

TLN-AC 

Porcupine Vegetation & 

Road Management 

Project 

Porcupine 

Vegetation & 

Road Management 

Project 

Sean Malone -

Attorney at Law 5/8/2014 Forest Products 

3,500 

5/1/2014 12-CV-00804-

AA 

Goose ProjectWillamette 

Cascadia 

Wildlands and 

Oregon Wild 

Western 

Environmental 

Law Center 

5/2/2014 Forest Products 

60,000 

5/22/2014 PIOGA 

Pennsylvania 

Independent Oil & Gas 

Assoc 

Pennsylvania 

Independent Oil & 

Gas Assoc 

Pennsylvania 

Independent Oil 

& Gas Assoc 

5/23/2014 

Minerals 

Geology 

Management 

 

530,000 

6/5/2014 10-CV-02172-

KJM-AC 

Central Sierra 

Environmental 

Resource Center, The 

Wilderness Society, and 

Public Employees for 

Environmental 

Responsibility 

California 

Association of 4-

wheel Drive Clubs 

(Alleged 

violations of 

NEPA & APA) 

Earthjustice 5/23/2014 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness, & 

Vegetation 

Watershed 

Management 

 

100,000 

6/24/2014 12-CV-02416-

WBS-KJN 

Conservation Congress 

v. USFS. Tatham 

Project (NEPA)(ESA). 

Tatham Project 

(NEPA) 

Marianne G 

Dugan PC 

Attorney Trust 

6/24/2014 Forest Products 

36,500 

9/12/2014 4:08-CV00363-EJL 

The Wilderness Society 

& Prairie Falcon 

Audubon, Inc. v. USFS 

& Magic Valley Trail 

Machine Assoc. 

 Sawtooth 

Minidoka Travel 

Plan Appeal 

Ligation 

Western 

Environmental 

Law Center 

9/15/2014 

Roads-Capital 

Improvement & 

Maintenance, 

Trails-Capital 

Improvement & 

Maintenance, 

Grazing 

Management, 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness, & 

 

120,000 
168 

Date Rec Docket, 

Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date Certified Program Amount 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

9/11/2014 N/A Citizens for Healthy 

Communities 

Minerals Geology 

Management. 

Attorney Fees 

only 

Western 

Environmental 

Law 

Funds 

Committed, 

Pending 

Final 

Judgment 

Information 

Minerals 

Geology 

Management 

 

60,000 

9/26/2014 11-CV-00679-

LJO-DLB 

Sequoia Forest Keeper, 

Conservation Congress, 

Earth Island Institute, 

Oregon Wild, Cascadia 

Wildlands, Ouachita 

Watch League, Utah 

Environmental, Western 

Watersheds, and 

Wilderarth Guardians 

Land Management 

Planning 

Matt Kenna, 

Attorney 9/26/2014 

Land 

Management 

Planning 

 

100,000 

FY 2014 Subtotal 1,335,157 

Date Rec Docket, 

Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date Certified Program Amount 

10/30/2014 4:12-CV00384-REB 

Greater 

Yellowstone 

Coalition v. Forest 

Service 

Trail Project 

Western 

Environmental 

Law Center 

IOLTA 

11/24/2014 

Trails-Capital 

Improvement & 

Maintenance 

$32,000 

12/11/2014 3:10-CV01397-SI League of 

Wilderness 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project v. USFS 

Blue Mountains 

Biodiversity 

League of 

Wilderness 

Defenders 

2/18/2015 Vegetation 

Watershed 

Management 

179,699 

01/18/2015 2:14-CV00729 

Western 

Watersheds 

Western 

Watersheds Ryberg Erik 1/21/2015 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

5,350 

01/12/2015 

2:13-CV0832-KJMDAD Mill Fire Salvage 

& Hazard Tree 

Removal 

Mill Fire Salvage & 

Hazard Tree 

Removal 

Ryberg Erik 1/21/2015 Forest Products 86,000 

01/27/2015 14-CV-00284-

JLK 

Citizens for 

Healthy 

Communities v. 

USFS 

Minerals Geology. 

Stipulation of 

Dismissal. Attorney 

Fees. NFMG0414 

Western 

Environmental 

LawLaw Center 

IOLTA 

1/29/2015 

Minerals 

Geology 

Management 

25,000 

01/29/2015 10-CV-03004-

CL 

Eric Navickas, et 

al 

Ashland Forest 

Resiliency Sean T Malone 2/23/2015 Forest Products 45,000 

2/06/2015 13-CV-01723-

RBJ 

High Country 

Conservation 

Advocates 

Attorney’s Fees Earthjustice 3/11/2015 

Minerals 

Geology 

Management 

116,136 

4/30/2015 3:10-CV01397-SI 

League of 

Wilderness 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project v. USFS 

Blue Mountains 

Biodiversity 

League of 

Wilderness 

Defenders 

8/07/2015 

Vegetation 

Watershed 

Management 

155,000 

8/14/2015 CV-14-1198 

(CKK) 

Public Employees 

for Environmental 

Responsibility 

Attorney’s Fees 

only 

Public Employees 

for Environmental 

Responsibility 

8/13/2015 Pool 1 Cultural 

Transformation 4,000 

8/28/2015 CV-11-95-MDWM Mark Kowack 

Joint Stipulation to 

Settlement For 

Attorney’s Fees 

Antonioli & Wade 

PC 8/28/2015 PD Civil Rights 

& HR ER LR 32,166 

FY 2015 Subtotal 680,351 
169 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

11/12/2015 11-CV-586-

REB 

Winter Wildlands 

Alliance v. United 

States Forest 

Service 

WINTERLANDS Advocate for the 

West 11/14/2015 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness 

$86,000 

11/15/2015 11-CV-00246-

WYD 

The Wilderness 

Society, Quiet Use 

Coalition, 

Wildearth 

Guardians Rocky 

Mountain Wild, and 

Great Old Broads 

for Wilderness, 

Plaintiff(s), v. 

United States Forest 

Service, a Federal 

agency within the 

U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, and 

Erin Connely, in her 

official capacity as 

Forest Supervisor 

for the Pike 

and San Isabel 

National Forests, 

Defendant(s), and 

Colorado Off 

Highway Vehicle 

Coalition Trails 

Preservation 

Alliance, and the 

Blueribbon 

Coalition, 

Intervenor 

Defendants. 

WILDEARTH 

GUARDIANS EARTHJUSTICE 11/16/2015 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness 

90,638 

12/1/2015 15-CV-00860-

PK 

Cascadia Wildlands 

vs. USFS Cascadia Wildlands 

Western 

Environmental Law 

Center 

12/8/2015 

Land 

Management 

Planning 

8,000 

12/1/2015 13-CV-00810-

HZ 

Gifford Pinchot 

Task Force v. 

Jerome E. Perez, Jr., 

Oregon/Washington 

State Director, 

Bureau of Land 

Management 

("BLM"); United 

States Department 

of the Interior, 

BLM; Janine 

Clayton, Forest 

Supervisor, Gifford 

Pinchot National 

Forest; and the 

United States Forest 

Service, United 

States Department 

of Agriculture 

("USFS") 

 59 NFMG Ascot 

Settlement-Jerome 

E Perez 

Lewis & Clark 

College (Law 

School) Earthrise 

Law Center 

12/8/2015 

Minerals 

Geology 

Management 

77,500 

12/1/2015 11-8128-PCTNVW 

Western Watershed 

Project and the 

Center for 

Biological 

Diversity, v. U.S. 

Forest Service 

Western 

Watersheds Project 

& the Center for 

Biological Diversity 

Erik Ryberg/Western 

Watersheds Project 12/8/2015 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

17,556 

2/9/2016 CV-13-129-MDWM 

Swan View 

Coalition, et al., v. 

Chip Weber, 

Flathead National 

Forest Supervisor, 

et al. 

Glacier Loon 

Project. Swan 

View Coalition 

Public Interest 

Defense Center PC 2/11/2016 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

10,000 
170 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

2/23/2016 13-CV-515-EJL 

Friends of the 

Clearwate1; et al v. 

United States 

Forest Service 

Friends of the 

Clearwater. 

Clearwater, 

Alliance for the 

Wild Rockies, and 

Sierra Club 

Bahr Law Office P C 2/23/2016 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

48,703 

2/23/2016 13-CV-515-EJL 

Friends of the 

Clearwate1; et al v. 

United States 

Forest Service 

Friends of the 

Clearwater. 

Clearwater, 

Alliance for the 

Wild Rockies, and 

Sierra Club 

Bahr Law Office P C 2/23/2016 

Roads-Capital 

Improvement & 

Maintenance 

16,234 

3/24/2016 12-CV-02271-

HZ 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project, 

et al., Plaintiffs, v. 

James M. Pena, et 

al., Federal 

Defendants, and 

American Forest 

Resource Council, 

et al., 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project. Earthrise 

Law Center 

Lewis & Clark 

College 3/29/2016 Forest Products 211,000 

3/24/2016 12-CV-02271-

HZ 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project, 

et al., Plaintiffs, v. 

James M. Pena, et 

al., Federal 

Defendants, and 

American Forest 

Resource Council, 

et al., 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project. Earthrise 

Law Center 

Lewis & Clark 

College 3/29/2016 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness 

19,000 

3/24/2016 12-CV-02271-

HZ 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project, 

et al., Plaintiffs, v. 

James M. Pena, et 

al., Federal 

Defendants, and 

American Forest 

Resource Council, 

et al., 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project. Earthrise 

Law Center 

Lewis & Clark 

College 3/29/2016 

Wildlife 

Fisheries 

Habitat 

Management 

26,000 

3/24/2016 12-CV-02271-

HZ 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project, 

et al., Plaintiffs, v. 

James M. Pena, et 

al., Federal 

Defendants, and 

American Forest 

Resource Council, 

et al., 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project. Earthrise 

Law Center 

Lewis & Clark 

College 3/29/2016 

Vegetation 

Watershed 

Management 

18,000 

3/24/2016 12-CV-02271-

HZ 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project, 

League of 

Wilderness, 

Defenders/Blue 

Mountains 

Biodiversity 

Project. Earthrise 

Lewis & Clark 

College 3/29/2016 

Hazardous 

Fuels 

Reduction 

126,000 
171 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

et al., Plaintiffs, v. 

JAMES M. PENA, 

et al., Federal 

Defendants, and 

American Forest 

Resource Council, 

et al., 

Law Center 

3/25/2016 15-CV-01066-

RSL 

Alpine Lakes 

Protection 

Society/Kittitas 

Audubon Society & 

Sierra Club, nonprofit corporations 

v. U.S. Forest 

Service, an agency 

of the U.S. 

Department of 

Agriculture and 

Mike Williams, in 

his official capacity 

as Forest Supervisor 

for the OkanoganWenatchee National 

Forest 

Alpine Lakes 

Protection 

Society/Kittitas 

Audubon Society & 

Sierra Club. 

Bahr Law Office P C 3/29/2016 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness 

10,000 

3/25/2016 15-CV-01066-

RSL 

Alpine Lakes 

Protection 

Society/Kittitas 

Audubon Society & 

Sierra Club, and 

non-profit 

corporations v. U.S. 

Forest Service, an 

agency of the U.S. 

Department of 

Agriculture and 

Mike Williams, in 

his official capacity 

as Forest Supervisor 

for the OkanoganWenatchee National 

Forest 

Alpine Lakes 

Protection 

Society/Kittitas 

Audubon Society & 

Sierra Club. 

Bahr Law Office P C 3/29/2016 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness 

22,000 

5/25/2016 

1:14-CV00341-LJOSKO 

Sequoia Keeper, v. 

Teresa Benson, et al 

Giant Sequoia 

National Monument 

Management Plan 

Rene P Voss 5/25/2016 Forest Products 98,000 

7/7/2016 1:12-CV-4-

REB 

Idaho Conservation 

League v. 

Farnsworth 

Idaho Conservation 

League. Healthy 

Forests Restoration 

Act 

Earthjustice 

7/7/2016 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

45,000 

7/15/2016 CV 10-104-MDWM 

Wildearth 

Guardians, et al. v. 

U.S. Forest Service, 

et al., 

Wildearth 

Guardians 

Jack Tuholske 

Attorney at Law PC 7/22/2016 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness 

103,060 
172 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

7/19/2016 08-CV-00394 

Idaho Wool 

Growers 

Association, and 

North American 

Packgoat 

Association, v 

Thomas Vilsack, in 

his official capacity 

as Secretary of the 

United States 

Department of 

Agriculture, 

Thomas Tidwell, in 

his official capacity 

as Chief of the 

United States Forest 

Service, and U.S. 

Forest Service 

Idaho Wool 

Growers 

Association. 

Shoshone Land 

Management. 

RADT Reports 

Andrew A Irvine PC 

7/20/2016 

Pool 1 General 

Management, 

Wildlife 

Fisheries 

Habitat 

Management 

140,000 

8/10/2016 

Pacific Coast 

Federation 

Fisherman’s 

Association 

Pacific Coast 

Federation of 

Fishermen's 

Black Butte River 

& Cold Creek 

Law Offices of 

Stephan C Volker 8/18/2016 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness, 

Landownership 

Management, 

Vegetation 

Watershed 

Management, 

Hazardous Fuel 

Reduction 

50,350 

8/31/2016 2:11-CV-1647-

MCE-CMK 

Klamath Siskiyou 

Wildlands Center, 

et al. v. Patricia 

Grantham, et al. 

Oak Knoll Range 

Project Klamath 

National Forest 

Law Office of David 

H Becker LLC 9/6/2016 

Inventory & 

Monitoring, 

Landownership 

Management, 

Land 

Management 

Planning, 

Vegetation 

Watershed 

Management, 

Minerals & 

Geology 

Management 

196,000 

9/6/2016 3:15-CV00169-BLW 

Idaho River United 

and Morgan Wright, 

Olga Wright v. 

DISTRICT 

RANGER JOE 

HUDSON in his 

official capacity, 

and UNITED 

STATES FOREST 

SERVICE 

Idaho Rivers 

Advocate for the 

West 9/7/2016 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

65,000 

9/9/2016 5:12-CV01841-TJH-OP 

Richard Fragosa, 

Peter Wiechers, 

Alasdair Coyne, and 

John Karevoll v. 

U.S. Forest Service 

including Randy 

Moore, in his 

official 

capacity as 

Regional Forester 

for the Pacific 

Southwest Region 

of the U.S. Forest 

Service. 

Fragosa 

Matt Kenna Attorney 

9/13/2016 Pool 4 Ongoing 

Bus Svs 170,000 
173 

Date Rec Docket, Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

9/9/2016 1:09-CV00023-JWS 

Organized Village 

of Kake, et al., 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

Unites States 

Department of 

Agriculture, et al., 

Defendants, 

and State of Alaska 

and Alaska Forest 

Association, 

Tongass 

Conservation 

Society 

Earth Justice 

9/14/2016 

Trails-Capital 

Improvement & 

Maintenance, 

Inventory & 

Monitoring, 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness, 

Forest Products 

250,000 

9/27/2016 CV-14-02446-

RUC-RM 

Defenders of 

Wildlife, et al. 

v. 

United States Forest 

Service, et al., 

Western Mining 

Action 

Advocates for the 

West 9/27/2016 Pool 4 Ongoing 

Bus Svstem 60,000 

9/27/2016 CV-14-02446-

RUC-RM 

Defenders of 

Wildlife, et al. 

v. 

United States Forest 

Service, et al., 

Western Mining 

Action Project 

Advocates for the 

West 9/27/2016 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration, 

Minerals 

Geology 

Management 

115,000 

9/28/2016 CV-10-0330-

AWT 

Center for 

Biological Diversity 

v. Nicole Branton, 

et al. and Ward 

Arizona Ranch 

Properties, LLC 

Center for 

Biological Diversity 

& Ward Arizona 

Ranch Properties 

LLC 

Advocates for the 

West 9/28/2016 

Recreation 

Heritage 

Wilderness, 

Integrated 

Resource 

Restoration 

55,673 

FY 2016 Subtotal 2,134,714 

Date Rec Docket, 

Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

10/05/2016 1:16-CV00025-ELJ 

Idaho Conservation 

League 

Golden Eagle 

Audubon Society 

Advocates for the 

West 10/06/2016 Pool 4 Ongoing Bus 

SVS $60,000 

10/12/2016 

2:13-CV02315-TLNAC 

FOIA-Phase I Upper 

Echo Lake 

Hazardous Fuels 

Reduction Project Nossaman LLP 10/18/2016 Hazardous Fuel 

Reduction 150,000 

10/14/2016 

5:16-CV00175-JBGDTB 

FOIA Story of Stuff 

Project 

Greenfire Law 

PC 10/18/2016 Hazardous Fuel 

Reduction 17,900 

10/27/2016 

1:15-CV1329-WBSEPG 

Sierra National Forest 

French Fire 

Recovery and 

Reforestation 

Project 

Center for 

Biological 

Diversity 

10/27/2016 Forest Products 31,751 

02/10/2017 9:16-CV-35-

DWM-M Leanne Marten 

Moosehorn Ditch 

Timber Sale 

Contract 

Public Interest 

Defense Center 02/10/2017 Integrated Resource 

Restoration 36,443 

03/22/2017 2:15-CV00027-BMM 

Gallatin Wildlife 

Association 

Gallatin Wildlife 

Association 

Cottonwood 

Environmental 

Law Center 

03/23/2017 Integrated Resource 

Restoration 104,000 

04/25/2017 06-CV-187-J BRANDT 352123-VIBRANDT 

Mountain States 

Legal Foundation 04/27/2017 Landownership 

Management 50,000 
174 

Date Rec Docket, 

Court Case Project Name Vendor Name Date 

Certified Program Amount 

06/29/2017 15-VC-2176 

(CKK) 

FACA (Federal 

Advisory Committee) 

“The Matter”. 

Attorney Fees. 

Civil Action 

Dismissal 

Center for 

Biological 

Diversity 

06/29/2017 Hazardous Fuel 

Reduction 6,000 

07/03/2017 15-CV00246-BLW Keith B Lannom Idaho Conservation 

League 

Advocates for the 

West 07/03/2017 Minerals Geology 

MGT 70,000 

07/31/2017 1:16-CV00457-BLW Watersheds Project Western 

Watersheds Project 

Advocates for the 

West 08/01/2017 Pool 5 Common SVS 22,686 

Subtotal FY 2017 548,780 

 
175 

Farm Bill Implementation 

Background 

Section 8204 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-79), also known as the “2014 Farm Bill,” amended the 

Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) by adding sections 602 and 603 to the end of HFRA. Section 602 outlines 

the designation requirements for landscape scale areas. Section 603 creates a new categorical exclusion to reduce the 

risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation in areas designated under section 602 as 

landscape scale areas. Section 603 also sets out annual reporting requirements. 

The Good Neighbor Authority (Sec. 8206 of the 2014 Farm Bill and Title IV, Sec. 417 of the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2014) allows the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with States 

and Puerto Rico and allow them to perform watershed restoration and forest management services on Federal and 

non-Federal lands. Agreement templates for both authorities were approved by the Office of Management and 

Budget in June 2015. One hundred twenty-five agreements in 33 States have been executed with the Forest Service 

to perform a variety of restoration services. 

Insect and Disease Designations 

Based on requests from States, the Forest Service has designated approximately 45.6 million acres across the 

National Forest System that are either already experiencing or are at risk of experiencing insect and disease 

infestations. Furthermore, the Chief designated an additional 24.1 million acres of National Forest System lands 

based on requests from Regional Foresters, bringing the total areas designated to 69.7 million acres. 
176 

Agency Implementation Efforts 

The agency will continue to build on these efforts in an expedited manner. Thus far, one hundred seventeen projects 

have been proposed under the 2014 Farm Bill Insect and Disease provisions. Seventy-eight Farm Bill decisions have 

been signed (72 Categorical Exclusions and six Environmental Assessments). Proposed actions include commercial 

timber harvesting, pre-commercial harvesting, prescribed burning, and chemical and biological control of pest 

species. Several additional projects are under development and will be included in future reports. 

Good Neighbor Authority 

The agency continues to grow relationships with State partners using the Good Neighbor Authority. Since July 

2015, Good Neighbor agreements have been established in 33 States. Many are long-term agreements up to ten 

years and presently all rely on the permanent authority provided in the Farm Bill. 

Summary of current agreements/status: 

 Master Agreements (MA) establish a framework for the State-Forest Service collaborative relationship with 

future projects identified in Supplemental Project Agreements. Twenty-nine MAs have been executed with 

agencies in 26 States. 

 Seventy-one Supplemental Project Agreements have been executed in 23 States. 

 Twenty-five stand-alone project agreements have been executed in nine States. 

 Agreements include at least 56 national forests. Some statewide project agreements may expand from a 

limited scope to many or all national forests in the State over time. 

 The scope of agreements is often broad to include the full suite of authorized forest, rangeland, and 

watershed restoration activities, though most have a primary emphasis. Of the 96 total project agreements, 

the primary emphasis includes: timber-35 percent, fuels-20 percent, wildlife/fisheries-15 percent, other 

restoration-15 percent, and collaboration or undetermined-15 percent. 

Executed or Closed Agreement Status 

Project agreements are being used to complete a wide range of restoration activities on National Forest System 

lands. For example, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the State of Wisconsin developed a program that 

serves as a model for other States and national forests. This partnership with Wisconsin Department of Natural 

Resources is on track to complete timber sales, wildlife habitat improvements, and other restoration activities on 

4,000 to 5,000 acres annually. In FY 2017, this partnership yielded approximately 25 million board feet and more 

than $2 million in project value and is projected to deliver a similar level each year. At least four other States have 

adopted similar plans. Projects in other States include prescribed burning; inventory and removal of non-native 

invasive plants; Douglas-fir tussock moth treatment across Federal, State, municipal, and private lands; wildlife 

habitat survey and improvement; rangeland vegetation treatments; and many other activities. 

Stewardship Contracting 

The 2014 Farm Bill permanently extended stewardship contracting authority by amending the Healthy Forest 

Restoration Act of 2003 (16 USC 6591c). Details about the agency’s stewardship contracting efforts are detailed in a 

separate special exhibit. 

Good Neighbor Agreements As of October 11, 2017

AL AK AR AZ CA CO FL GA ID IN KY LA ME MI MN MS MT NC ND NH NV OH OR PA SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WI WY

Master

Agreement

2X X X X X 2X X X X X X X X X 2X X X X X X X X X X X X

Supplemental

Project

Agreement

6X X 3X 2X 10X 2X 4X 2X 3X X 3X 2X X 2X 2X 14X 2X X X X 3X X 4X

Standalone

Project

Agreement

X X X X 4X X 2X X 13X
177 

Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program 

The 2008 Farm Bill (Section 1252) established the ACES program. The authority was extended to the Forest Service 

in the 2014 Farm Bill (Section 8302). The program provides a cost-effective recruitment opportunity to obtain 

temporary technical services of non-Federal, experienced workers age 55 and older to assist in conservation-related 

programs. The agency’s initial implementation efforts in FY 2017 have focused on the immediate need for 

additional support, mentoring, and training in positions related to timber sale implementation and silviculture. The 

agreements that have been executed to date are funding over 40 part-time enrollees to provide support and 

mentoring (approximately 28,000 hours of work) on both the planning and implementation of timber sales and forest 

restoration work throughout Regions 1-9. More information may be found at: https://www.fs.fed.us/working-withus/aces-program.

 
178 

Fire Transfers 

Background 

This exhibit is not required by Congressional direction; however, it is included to provide an update on the status of 

funds borrowed from other budget line item accounts and transferred to the Wildland Fire Management Suppression 

account for the purpose of emergency fire suppression. 

Overview 

Transfers for fire suppression occur when the agency has exhausted all available fire resources from the Suppression 

and FLAME accounts. Congressional appropriations currently fund the agency at around the 10-year average for 

wildland fire suppression costs. If wildland fire suppression costs exceed the 10-year average and any available 

suppression balances, the Forest Service must receive a supplemental appropriation or execute fire transfer(s) from 

other program accounts for fire suppression expenditures. 

The total cost of wildfire suppression in FY 2017 was $2.4 billion. Congress appropriated $1.2 billion for 

suppression and $342 million in the FLAME account in FY 2017. The agency transferred $526.5 million from 

discretionary and mandatory accounts to cover suppression costs after appropriated funds for suppression were 

exhausted. These funds were repaid in full via the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief 

Requirements Act, 2017 (H.R.2266, P.L. 115-72). The remaining difference was covered through the use of 

unobligated balances. 

The following table lists the funds that were not fully repaid from fire transfers that occurred from FY 2002 through 

FY 2017. 

Funds Withdrawn for Transfer for Wildland Fire Suppression 

and Not Repaid from FY 2002 to FY 2017 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Appropriation 

FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 -

FY 2017 Amount 

Forest & Rangeland Research - $32 - - - - $32 

State and Private Forestry - 3,099 - - - - 3,099 

National Forest System $33,000 73,167 - - - - 106,167 

Capital Improvements and Maintenance 25,000 10,305 - - - - 35,305 

Land Acquisitions - 4,308 $5,000 - - - 9,308 

Brush Disposal - 64 - - - - 64 

Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement 

Fund - 45 - - - - 45 

Timber Purchaser Election Road 

Construction - 90 10,000 $20,000 - - 30,090 

Timber Salvage Sales - 112 - - - - 112 

Restoration of Forest Lands and 

Improvements - - - - $20,000 - 20,000 

Working Capital Fund 65,000 11,029 10,000 - - - 86,029 

Wildland Fire Preparedness 80,000 - - - 13,786 - 93,786 

Forest Land Enhancement Program - 40,032 - - - - 40,032 

Total 203,000 142,283 25,000 20,000 33,786 - 424,069 
179 

Note: From FY 2009 through FY 2017, all fire transfers have been repaid in full. For FY 2004 and FY 2005 there was not a need 

for fire transfers. 

Wildland Fire Preparedness (WFPR, FY 2002 and FY 2008) and Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP, FY 2003) are not to 

be repaid ($133,818 combined), resulting in a true total unpaid amount of $290,251. FLEP was adopted in the 2002 Farm Bill 

and the Program’s funding authority expired in 2007. In the relevant annual appropriations, Congress has provided the Forest 

Service the authority to transfer available funds for firefighting activities. Funds are repaid to Wildland Fire Management, which 

includes WFPR. 

 
180 

National Scenic and Historic Trails

Background 

This special exhibit is included to address requirements of P.L. 111-88 House Report 111-180 page 132, which 

directed: 

“The Committee recommendation retains previous base funding for maintenance, construction, and operation of the 

network of national scenic and historic trails but encourages additional funding for required work of the newly 

authorized national trails. Future budget justifications should continue to provide specific trail operation, 

maintenance and construction funding and accomplishment data for the national scenic and historic trails. The 

Forest Service should provide full time administrators and prepare the required comprehensive management plans 

for the newly authorized national trails.” 

Overview 

The Forest Service has designated trail administrators for six National Scenic and Historic Trails (NS&HT): 

Arizona, Continental Divide, Florida, Nez Perce (Nee Mee Poo), Pacific Crest, and Pacific Northwest. The 

Appalachian Trail is managed in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS). The Forest Service manages 

portions of 15 additional NS&HTs on National Forest System (NFS) lands, in cooperation with the Department of 

the Interior (DOI), state and county governments, and private partners. Funding for administration and management 

of these trails is included within the Capital Improvement and Maintenance Trails appropriation. Trail land 

acquisition is funded under the Land Acquisition appropriation. 

Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) 

This 2,190-mile footpath crosses the Appalachian Mountains from Mt. Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in 

northern Georgia, crossing through both the Southern and Eastern Regions of the Forest Service. The trail is 

protected along more than 99 percent of its course. Trail partners include the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 

Appalachian Mountain Club, National Park Service, and other organizations. In FY 2017, the AT was maintained 

in a safe status for visitors along its entire length through the Southern Region and over 1,936 volunteers 

contributed 80,865 hours across the Region. In the Eastern Region, the White Mountain National Forest maintained 

169 miles of the AT primarily through 10,085 hours of volunteer time. On the Green Mountain National Forest, 

volunteers donated 2,725 hours of their time to maintain 148 miles of trail. 

Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZNST) 

This 800-mile trail showcases the state’s diverse vegetation and wildlife while providing important economic 

opportunities for gateway communities. Eighty-five percent of the AZNST is located on Federal land, including four 

national forests, two Bureau of Land Management field offices, and four National Park Service units. Partners 

include the Arizona Trail Association, Federal, State and local governments, Tribes, and non-governmental 

organizations. In FY 2017, approximately 900 people attended three of our Gateway Community events. Over 

1,390 volunteers contributed a total of 21,420 hours of work and 45 volunteer events were held. In addition to trail 

maintenance and construction, volunteers installed 11 “super gates” that resist vandalism and are hiker and horse 

friendly. At Stewardship Conferences, trail stewards learned stewarding responsibilities, volunteer retention and 

volunteer management skills. In addition, five Trail Skills Institute classes were conducted throughout the State 

where volunteers learned sustainable trail design, dry stone masonry and armoring techniques, corridor maintenance, 

and hydrology. 

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) 

The 3,100 mile long CDT runs along the spine of the Rocky Mountains from Mexico to Canada. It connects 20 

National Forests, three National Parks, one National Monument, 13 Bureau of Land Management field offices, and 

historic sites. About 90 percent of the trail is located on public lands; however, many trail segments are currently colocated along open roads or motorized trails. Easements are lacking across numerous parcels of private and State 

land and are needed to secure a continuous route available for permanent public use. 
181 

Partners include the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Montana Wilderness Association, Colorado Trail 

Foundation, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Montana Conservation Corps, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, 

Conservation Legacy, Backcountry Horsemen and numerous other Federal, State, and local nongovernmental 

organizations. In FY 2017 the Forest Service developed a free map set of the CDT and a planning guide for trail 

users. The agency also expanded the Adopt-a-Trail and Gateway Community programs to encourage more people to 

become stewards of the CDT, and engaged youth corps crews to mark the CDT at trailheads and road and trail 

crossings. Finally, the agency helped produce a documentary film focused on the CDT to highlight the 50th

anniversary of the National Trails System Act and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2018. 

Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) 

The FNST consists of a 1,300-mile planning corridor stretching from Big Cypress National Preserve in the 

Everglades to Gulf Islands National Seashore in the panhandle of Florida. There are 1,063 miles of certified FNST 

on the ground, leaving just under 300 miles in gaps. Partners include the Florida Trail Association, National Park 

Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Forest Service, Florida State Parks, and other organizations. In FY 

2017, volunteers maintained 100 percent of the FNST, contributing nearly 24,000 hours and adding over 20 miles of 

designated trail. The Forest Service also created a curriculum-based trail guide for 3rd-5th grade students and hosted 

an AmeriCorps VetsWork intern who worked alongside our infrastructure partner enhancing skills for building, 

layout and design of bridges and boardwalks. The agency also completed a bridge closing over 12 miles of gap in 

partnership with two non-profit partners and Federal and state agency partners. 

Nez Perce National Historic Trail (NPNHT, or Nee-Mee-Poo) 

In 1986, Congress acknowledged the significance of the Nez Perce Conflict of 1877 by establishing the 1,170-mile 

NPNHT. With the cooperation of State Highway Department and County Commissioners in the states of Oregon, 

Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, over 2,991 miles of roads are designated as the NPNHT Auto Tour 

Route. The route roughly parallels the course travelled by the five Nez Perce bands during their historic 1877 

odyssey and offers opportunities for off-highway vehicles, biking and snowmobile use. The NPNHT has 79 historic 

sites to be managed and seven high potential segments which have historic tread from 1877 or were prehistoric 

travel routes. The NPNHT is currently revising its Comprehensive Plan for trail administration and management. 

Partners include the Nez Perce Trail Foundation, Nez Perce Appaloosa Horse Club, the Idaho Chapter of the Lewis 

and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, the Wallowa Band Nez Perce Trail Interpretive Center, the Bitter Root 

Cultural Heritage Trust, Eastern Oregon University, and Montana Natural History Center. The Forest Service is in 

the process of revising the trail’s comprehensive plan. A new exhibit, “The Journey of the Resilient Nez Perce 

People,” opened at the Ravalli County Museum in May 2017. Following its time in Hamilton, Montana, the exhibit 

is designed to travel to other communities along the trail. In FY 2017, the NPNHT reported a total of 1,740 

volunteer hours. On the Lolo National Forest, staff treated invasive plants to preserve the trail’s natural condition, 

cleared 87 trees from the trail, and maintained 215 markers and travel management signs. 

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) 

This 2,650-mile trail follows the crest of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges from the Mexican to 

Canadian borders through California, Oregon, and Washington. There are 25 National Forests; seven Bureau of 

Land Management field offices; six National Park units; five National Monuments; and 48 designated wilderness 

areas. Over half of the PCT is in designated wilderness. Partners include the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), 

American Conservation Experience (ACE), Washington Trails Association, Pacific Northwest Trail, California 

Conservation Corps, Northwest Youth Corps, Mt. Hood Chapter volunteers, Washington Conservation Corps, 

Oregon Equestrian Trails, Backcountry Horsemen of California, Oregon, Washington, and other organizations. In 

FY 2017, PCTA’s volunteer trail maintenance and construction efforts were focused in areas where fire, floods, and 

significant deadfall of trees have closed the PCT. Mt. Hood Chapter volunteers spent 320 hours clearing logs and ice 

from two miles of trail, and PCTA and the Klamath National Forest replaced two 60-foot bridges that had been 

destroyed by the Happy Camp Complex wildfire in 2014. These bridges are essential for safe hiker and equestrian 

crossings. The Forest Service partnered with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, PCTA, Virginia Tech, 

and Applied Trails Research on recreation impacts monitoring and management. The agency also partnered with the 

Bureau of Land Management to teach Leave No Trace principles and monitored impacts on the first 110 miles of the 

trail. Finally, the Forest Service focused on connecting youth to the trail and the outdoors by working with a variety 
182 

of 21st Century Youth Corps (ACE), the Environmental Charter High School (LA), NAACP Vancouver Youth, and 

Alternative Spring Break College Programs. 

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNNST) 

The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNNST) begins at the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park and 

travels 1,200 miles through Montana, Idaho, and Washington before reaching the Pacific Ocean. The trail’s complex 

land ownership includes three National Parks, seven National Forests, six Washington State Parks, and other lands. 

Partners include the Pacific Northwest Trail Association (PNTA); Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, Idaho, 

and Montana; Washington Trails Association; Student Conservation Association; University of Montana; Western 

Washington University; and other organizations. In FY 2017, volunteers from the PNTA performed over 11,800 

hours of maintenance, a value of over $290,000. The Forest Service worked with PNTA to develop a georeferenced 

map to trail users, and the map has been downloaded over 10,000 times to date. The PNNST program is partnering 

with the University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation to study visitor use of the PNNST and 

adjacent trails in Northwest Montana. Data is being collected by trail counters, cameras, and hiker interviews to help 

determine the legislatively-required carrying capacity component of the PNNST’s Comprehensive Plan. 

Other National Scenic and Historic Trails (NSHT) 

The Forest Service coordinates management with other Federal public land agencies for an additional 15 national 

scenic and historic trails totaling over 6,700 miles. These trails are: California, Camino Real Tejas, Camino Tierra 

Adentro, De Anza, Ice Age, Iditarod, Lewis and Clark, Mormon Pioneer, North Country, Old Spanish, Oregon, 

Overmountain Victory, Pony Express, Santa Fe, and Trail of Tears. 

Funding for National Scenic and Historic Trails 

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2017 Actual FY 2018 Annualized CR FY 2019 President’s Budget 

Name Trails Land 

Acq.

SubtotalTrails Land 

Acq.

SubtotalTrails Land 

Acq.

Subtotal

Appalachian $283 $825 $1,108 $280 $820 $1,100 TBD TBD TBD 

Arizona 495 0 495 492 0 492 TBD TBD TBD 

Continental 

Divide 1,677 0 1,677 1,675 0 1,675 TBD TBD TBD 

Florida 1,300 0 1,300 1,300 0 1,300 TBD TBD TBD 

Nez Perce 800 525 1,325 800 520 1,320 TBD TBD TBD 

Pacific Crest 1,829 3,200 5,029 1,827 3,200 5,027 TBD TBD TBD 

Pacific 

Northwest 838 0 838 836 0 836 TBD TBD TBD 

All-others 702 2,820 3,522 700 2,700 3,400 TBD TBD TBD 

Total 7,924 7,370 15,294 7,910 7,240 15,150 TBD TBD TBD 
183 

FY 2017 Partner Contributions and Associated Accomplishments

Location

Volunteers

Hours In-kind

Contributions

Non-Cash

Contributions

Miles of

Trail

Maintained

Miles of

Trail

Improved

Acres

Acquired

Major

Structures

Constructed

Appalachian 93,675 $2,248,200 $15,014 1,185 1 351 5

Arizona 21,420 514,080 13,440 296 48 0 19 

Continental

Divide 

40,000 960,000 0 1,300 93 112 55 

Florida 23,669 568,056 41,930 1030 15 0 1 

Nez Perce 13,950 334,800 45,500 890 80 800 6 

Pacific Crest* 91,153 2,187,672 0 1,518 1,544 436 6 

Pacific 

Northwest 

11,800 283,200 0 329 90 0 5

Total 295,667 7,096,008 115,884 6,548 1,871 3,013 93 

*The Forest Service acquired 436 acres in FY 2017. The Bureau of Land Management and non-governmental organizations also 

acquired a total of 1,314 acres, for a total of 1,750 acres. 

 
184 

Office of General Counsel Reimbursement 

Background 

This special exhibit is required by P.L. 110-161, page 121, Administrative Provisions, which directed: 

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any appropriations or funds available to the Forest Service not to 

exceed $500,000 may be used to reimburse the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Department of Agriculture, 

for travel and related expenses incurred as a result of OGC assistance or participation requested by the Forest 

Service at meetings, training sessions, management reviews, land purchase negotiations and similar non-litigation 

related matters. Future budget justifications for both the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture should 

clearly display the sums previously transferred and the requested funding transfers.” 

Overview 

The USDA Office of General Counsel bills the Forest Service quarterly for non-litigation travel and related costs. 

The table below reflects billings received to date. 

Office of General Counsel Reimbursement FY 2016 to FY 2019 

FY 2016 Actual 

Reimbursement 

FY 2017 Actual 

Reimbursement 

FY 2018 Planned 

Reimbursement 

FY 2019 Planned 

Reimbursement 

$13,000 $5,595 $15,000 $15,000 

 
185 

Region, Station, and Area Allocations

Background 

This exhibit is not required by Congressional direction; however, it is included to provide historical 

information on allocations of appropriations at the Fund and Budget Line Item levels to Forest Service 

Regions, Stations and Areas.

Overview 

The Office of Management and Budget apportions all funds available to the Forest Service prior to obligation 

or disbursement. Once funds are apportioned to the Forest Service at the fund level, they are allocated 

throughout the agency to Budget Line Items in the Regions, Stations, and Areas. 

The Forest Service operates through nine geographical regions, seven research stations, the Northeastern Area 

- State and Private Forestry, the Albuquerque Service Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the national 

headquarters in Washington, DC. Allocations are determined by balancing the priorities of Congress, the 

Administration, agency leadership, and Region/Station/Area capabilities. Allocations are agency 

administrative divisions of apportionments and are used to monitor financial status and prevent deficiency. 

 
186 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 REGION 01 - Northern Region REGION 02 - Rocky Mountain Region

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 4,337 2,935 5,235 5,355 4,786 4,800

Infrastructure Improvement 0 0 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 0 0 0 2,742 2,699 2,750

Roads 12,307 13,188 13,217 14,200 15,442 16,653

Trails 9,575 8,613 8,769 6,919 6,550 6,726

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 26,219 24,736 27,221 29,216 29,477 30,929

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 0 0 0 40 40 0

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 0 0 0 40 40 0

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 548 0 0 577

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 2,526 565 4,000 480 622 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition Total 2,526 565 4,548 480 622 577

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 4,949 4,845 5,170 2,720 2,535 2,705

Forest Products 0 0 0 24,332 24,969 21,945

Grazing Management 5,351 5,475 5,499 7,322 7,355 7,357

Integrated Resource Restoration 67,163 60,666 64,215 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 9,281 9,151 0 7,888 7,638 0

Land Management Planning 3,535 2,906 0 1,639 1,389 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 11,286 0 0 9,114

Landownership Management 5,131 4,777 4,825 5,864 6,024 5,897

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 6,889 7,337 8,520 7,318 7,446 7,475

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 12,572 12,454 12,283 19,154 19,266 19,455

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 0 0 0 11,653 10,726 12,238

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 0 0 0 8,624 8,151 7,830

National Forest System Total 114,871 107,611 111,798 96,514 95,499 94,016

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 243 0 0 332

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 1,255 942 1,104 2,106 1,678 1,485

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 3,432 3,470 3,167 3,197 3,189 3,022

Forest Legacy Program 15,407 10,020 7,000 300 320 0

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 567 585 544 1,123 1,139 1,023

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 475 0 0 1,870 7 0

Urban and Community Forestry 745 744 746 1,762 1,760 1,569

State & Private Forestry Total 21,881 15,761 12,804 10,358 8,093 7,431

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 5,227 6,570 3,411 8,369 6,474 3,519

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 778 823 1,004 1,160 1,398 1,583

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0 0 0 0

Fire Preparedness 51,370 51,468 51,258 25,425 25,202 26,858

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hazardous Fuels 12,119 13,945 19,617 20,133 22,217 26,359

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 69,494 72,806 75,290 55,087 55,291 58,319

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cost Pools 41,337 39,366 39,127 36,944 35,183 35,328

Range Betterment Fund 261 0 0 481 0 0

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 276,589 260,845 270,788 229,120 224,205 226,600
187 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 REGION 03 - Southwestern Region REGION 04 - Intermountain Region

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 5,439 3,979 4,273 4,290 4,325 4,164

Infrastructure Improvement 343 0 0 80 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Roads 12,873 14,050 14,091 14,940 12,934 12,840

Trails 3,368 3,424 3,354 6,726 6,606 6,260

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 22,023 21,453 21,718 26,036 23,865 23,264

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 475 317 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 209 0 0 527

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 225 268 0 495 562 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0000

Land Acquisition Total 225 268 209 970 879 527

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 3,664 4,535 4,839 2,040 2,035 2,172

Forest Products 0 0 0000

Grazing Management 8,239 8,265 8,139 8,760 8,769 8,709

Integrated Resource Restoration 47,200 45,679 45,365 46,386 48,977 48,139

Inventory and Monitoring 8,751 7,154 0 9,688 10,125 0

Land Management Planning 3,771 4,403 0 899 1,027 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 10,371 0 0 11,916

Landownership Management 4,219 4,197 4,082 5,294 5,195 5,004

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 5,714 5,772 5,866 8,270 8,399 8,438

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 17,470 16,939 16,807 20,178 20,180 20,317

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 0 0 0 0 0 95

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 0 8 0 0 0 0

National Forest System Total 99,028 96,952 95,469 101,515 104,707 104,790

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0000

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 132 0 0 188

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 1,051 857 963 1,064 760 871

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 1,629 1,659 1,499 2,729 2,771 2,501

Forest Legacy Program 2,530 125 3,480 2,651 2,792 2,929

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 505 510 443 390 396 386

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 300 0 0 1,045 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 699 708 711 653 660 665

State & Private Forestry Total 6,714 3,859 7,228 8,532 7,379 7,540

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 2,390 3,084 2,931 2,793 3,342 1,211

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 808 766 817 293 293 386

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0 1,284 1,284 0

Fire Preparedness 53,782 53,445 52,528 47,359 51,588 56,322

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hazardous Fuels 23,951 36,672 31,758 17,841 20,052 23,672

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 80,931 93,967 88,034 69,570 76,559 81,591

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0000

Cost Pools 40,867 38,771 38,698 41,683 38,367 38,489

Range Betterment Fund 677 0 0 759 0 0

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 250,465 255,270 251,356 249,065 251,756 256,201
188 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 REGION 05 - Pacific Southwest Region REGION 06 - Pacific Northwest Region

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 5,744 6,623 5,878 4,613 5,315 5,423

Infrastructure Improvement 2,078 925 0 0 450 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 5,211 5,115 5,218 6,253 6,159 6,451

Roads 15,199 14,660 15,020 17,495 17,813 17,907

Trails 6,482 6,361 5,845 6,641 6,338 6,025

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 34,714 33,684 31,961 35,002 36,075 35,806

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 475 317 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 798 0 0 630

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 740 918 0 545 663 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition Total 1,215 1,235 798 545 663 630

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 2,268 2,620 2,796 6,193 6,230 6,648

Forest Products 29,000 28,720 22,596 47,000 46,791 50,559

Grazing Management 3,387 3,360 3,466 3,714 3,821 3,833

Integrated Resource Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 11,321 11,068 0 11,306 11,075 0

Land Management Planning 2,606 2,597 0 2,781 2,528 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 12,598 0 0 12,252

Landownership Management 7,239 6,949 6,669 5,512 5,443 5,235

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 5,246 4,527 4,658 3,508 3,899 3,921

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 22,751 22,528 22,498 20,077 19,335 19,126

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 15,438 13,584 13,710 18,910 17,523 19,659

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 11,755 12,173 12,273 14,440 15,241 16,818

National Forest System Total 111,011 108,126 101,264 133,441 131,886 138,051

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 288 0 0 336

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 2,332 1,858 2,083 2,560 2,136 2,296

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 3,658 3,656 3,547 5,574 5,556 5,097

Forest Legacy Program 1,450 3,288 4,565 4,250 7,474 7,218

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 1,012 1,040 948 706 720 576

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 75 0 0 600 40 0

Urban and Community Forestry 2,364 2,708 2,717 785 767 827

State & Private Forestry Total 10,891 12,550 14,148 14,475 16,693 16,350

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 7,579 6,891 5,635 7,500 5,184 2,221

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 1,081 1,016 1,217 920 921 1,015

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0 0 0 0

Fire Preparedness 210,186 211,115 238,174 68,089 66,898 69,632

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hazardous Fuels 45,714 47,487 56,681 24,646 28,215 32,195

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 264,560 266,509 301,707 101,155 101,218 105,063

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cost Pools 64,896 57,819 56,994 71,830 68,189 67,959

Range Betterment Fund 129 0 0 229 0 0

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 487,416 479,923 506,872 356,677 354,724 363,859
189 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 REGION 08 - Southern Region REGION 09 - Eastern Region

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 6,958 6,506 6,394 4,896 4,378 4,395

Infrastructure Improvement 586 0 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 3,791 3,734 3,860 2,798 3,091 3,193

Roads 15,402 16,881 19,656 12,261 15,045 15,068

Trails 6,833 6,632 6,576 5,399 4,912 4,933

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 33,570 33,753 36,486 25,354 27,426 27,589

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 95 95 95 0 0 0

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 95 95 95 0 0 0

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 316 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 977 0 0 1,225

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 955 1,056 0 1,130 1,438 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition Total 955 1,372 977 1,130 1,438 1,225

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 5,893 4,896 5,225 746 820 875

Forest Products 29,559 29,169 35,030 33,500 35,916 37,822

Grazing Management 525 606 554 525 539 554

Integrated Resource Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 8,431 8,125 0 8,106 7,642 0

Land Management Planning 2,726 2,497 0 1,078 1,096 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 11,111 0 0 8,819

Landownership Management 6,606 6,535 6,305 6,289 6,271 6,124

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 3,769 3,770 4,269 4,469 4,517 4,924

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 22,922 20,994 22,175 17,950 18,134 17,553

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 14,726 14,064 14,688 16,230 18,184 15,713

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 16,841 15,872 16,003 13,606 13,809 12,100

National Forest System Total 111,998 106,528 115,360 102,499 106,928 104,484

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 796 0 0 0

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 7,803 6,889 6,766 0 0 0

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 6,905 6,898 6,661 2 1 0

Forest Legacy Program 8,388 15,923 23,260 0 0 0

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 5,124 5,238 4,158 0 0 0

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 4,587 60 205 0 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 5,534 5,456 5,456 0 0 0

State & Private Forestry Total 38,341 40,464 47,302 2 1 0

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 17,059 17,092 17,381 75 75 76

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 3,730 3,689 4,079 0 0 0

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0 0 0 0

Fire Preparedness 32,664 32,493 32,850 20,599 21,029 19,728

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hazardous Fuels 35,921 35,735 39,414 10,038 11,042 12,064

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 89,374 89,009 93,724 30,712 32,146 31,868

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cost Pools 45,411 42,537 42,394 38,355 36,284 35,820

Range Betterment Fund 100000

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 319,745 313,758 336,338 198,052 204,223 200,986
190 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 REGION 10 - Alaska Region Forest Products Lab

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 5,029 4,576 3,385 1,291 35 400

Infrastructure Improvement 0 0 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 524 553 532 0 0 0

Roads 9,100 7,800 6,589 0 0 0

Trails 3,340 3,334 3,240 0 0 0

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 17,993 16,263 13,746 1,291 35 400

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 31 27 31 20,228 26,320 19,722

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 2,000

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 31 27 31 20,228 26,320 21,722

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 147 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 154 162 4,888 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition Total 154 162 5,035 0 0 0

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Products 14,500 14,490 14,521 0 0 0

Grazing Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

Integrated Resource Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 5,437 5,603 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning 946 994 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 5,630 0 0 0

Landownership Management 3,509 3,525 3,359 0 0 0

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 2,719 2,845 2,818 0 0 30

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 7,692 7,634 7,677 0 0 0

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 4,233 4,520 4,946 0 0 0

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 8,673 7,560 7,573 0 0 0

National Forest System Total 47,709 47,171 46,524 0 0 30

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 16 0 0 0

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 1,440 1,132 1,354 0 0 0

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 1,647 1,657 1,565 0 0 0

Forest Legacy Program 40 49 0 0 0 0

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 532 528 512 0 0 0

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 135 0 0 0 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 236 235 237 0 0 0

State & Private Forestry Total 4,030 3,601 3,684 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 1,938 1,150 1,347 0 0 0

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 111 105 292 0 0 0

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0 0 0 0

Fire Preparedness 2,469 2,511 2,281 0 0 0

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 0 0 0 651 651 0

Hazardous Fuels 782 882 1,010 650 902 905

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 5,300 4,648 4,930 1,301 1,553 905

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cost Pools 17,121 16,337 15,906 0 20 33

Range Betterment Fund 000000

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 0 0 0 15 0 0

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 2,500 2,500 2,499 0 0 0

Grand Total 94,838 90,709 92,355 22,835 27,928 23,090
191 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 Rocky Mtn Research Station Northern Research Station

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 438 2,219 643 708 25 75

Infrastructure Improvement 0 0 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Roads 0 0 0 0 0 0

Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 438 2,219 643 708 25 75

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 41,877 38,394 24,323 55,027 51,043 33,525

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 14,163 0 0 17,701

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 41,877 38,394 38,486 55,027 51,043 51,226

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Products 265 264 265 0 0 0

Grazing Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

Integrated Resource Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 45 0 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning 23 0 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landownership Management 36 0 0 0 0 0

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 54 0 0 0 0 0

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 245 0 29 26 55 56

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 307 306 307 0 0 0

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 315 265 265 0 0 0

National Forest System Total 1,290 835 866 26 55 56

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 0 0 0 65

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 1,988 0 0 70 65 244

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 186 499 99 35 20 0

Forest Legacy Program 0 0 0 65 65 0

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 252 189 0 0 0 0

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 0 0 0 25 25 0

State & Private Forestry Total 2,426 688 99 195 175 309

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 99 99 99 0 0 0

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 0 0 0 0 0 0

Fire Operations -- Suppression 1,266 1,266 1,266 0 0 0

Fire Preparedness 3,194 2,559 1,089 0 0 0

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 6,746 6,606 1,105 2,944 2,944 171

Hazardous Fuels 1,589 2,901 797 57 57 57

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 12,894 13,431 4,356 3,001 3,001 228

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cost Pools 0 78 78 0 97 104

Range Betterment Fund 000000

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 58,925 55,645 44,528 58,957 54,396 51,998
192 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 Pacific Northwest Research Station Pacific Southwest Research Station

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 228 2,140 350 1,070 26 23

Infrastructure Improvement 0 1,712 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Roads 0 0 0 0 0 0

Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 228 3,852 350 1,070 26 23

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 40,546 40,346 23,500 19,746 17,381 17,499

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 16,490 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 40,546 40,346 39,990 19,746 17,381 17,499

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0000

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0000

Land Acquisition Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Products 0 0 0000

Grazing Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

Integrated Resource Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 912 642 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning 0 0 0 32 32 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 542 0 0 32

Landownership Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 0 14 0000

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 0 0 56 46 0 0

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 0 181 156 27 27 82

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Forest System Total 912 837 754 105 59 114

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0000

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 0000

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 588 294 269 50 47 59

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 171 294 269 35 0 0

Forest Legacy Program 0 0 0 24 24 24

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 0 0 0 49 49 49

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 0 0 0 24 24 24

State & Private Forestry Total 759 588 538 182 144 156

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 0 0 0 24 24 24

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 0 0 0000

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0000

Fire Preparedness 0 54 54 0 0 0

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 4,082 4,082 617 2,690 2,690 101

Hazardous Fuels 114 382 307000

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 4,196 4,518 978 2,714 2,714 125

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0000

Cost Pools 0 39 33 0 26 20

Range Betterment Fund 000000

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 46,641 50,180 42,643 23,817 20,350 17,937
193 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 Southern Research Station International Inst of Tropical Forestry

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 670 664 2,450 31 25 130

Infrastructure Improvement 0 0 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Roads 0 0 0 0 0 0

Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 670 664 2,450 31 25 130

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 48,187 46,414 28,615 2,691 2,713 2,689

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 18,184 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 48,187 46,414 46,799 2,691 2,713 2,689

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0000

Land Acquisition Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Products 0 0 0000

Grazing Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

Integrated Resource Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 361 550 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning 0 0 0 44 44 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 542 0 0 44

Landownership Management 0 0 0000

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minerals and Geology Management 0 0 0000

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 8 0 0 0 0 0

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 361 181 431 105 103 105

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Forest System Total 730 731 973 149 147 149

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0000

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 0 0 0 151

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 230 341 317 318 249 312

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 454 443 438 15 16 11

Forest Legacy Program 22 0 0 86 0 0

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 51 0 0 386 385 369

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 6 0 0 391 389 393

State & Private Forestry Total 763 784 755 1,196 1,039 1,236

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 0 0 0 409 412 417

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 0 0 0 28 28 32

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0000

Fire Preparedness 80 80 100 0 0 0

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 2,282 2,282 71 100 100 100

Hazardous Fuels 325 191 191000

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 2,687 2,553 362 537 540 549

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0000

Cost Pools 0 91 85 1,416 1,254 1,285

Range Betterment Fund 000000

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 53,037 51,237 51,424 6,020 5,718 6,038
194 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 Northeastern Area Albuquerque Service Center

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 0 0 0 0 0 250

Infrastructure Improvement 0 0 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Roads 0 0 0 1,183 1,183 1,441

Trails 0 0 0 0 0 0

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 0 0 0 1,183 1,183 1,691

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 0 0 0 1,748 1,748 2,197

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 0 0 0 0

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 0 0 0 1,748 1,748 2,197

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0 0

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Acquisition Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Products 0 0 0 3,138 3,092 3,509

Grazing Management 0 0 0 26 30 31

Integrated Resource Restoration 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inventory and Monitoring 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning 0 0 0 0 0 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 0 0 0 300

Landownership Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

Law Enforcement Operations 0 0 0 662 662 671

Minerals and Geology Management 0 0 0 0 61 62

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 0 0 0 2,352 2,779 3,127

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 0 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 0 0 0 1,068 1,068 1,071

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 0 0 0 0 0 0

National Forest System Total 0 0 0 7,246 7,692 8,771

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 1,356 0 0 30

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 17,322 13,236 13,609 171 174 174

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 6,541 6,949 5,710 0 23 270

Forest Legacy Program 12,357 19,712 7,495 30 30 0

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 6,472 6,444 5,514 30 30 234

International Forestry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Landscape Scale Restoration 3,427 70 70 0 0 0

Urban and Community Forestry 8,800 8,689 8,763 20 63 88

State & Private Forestry Total 54,919 55,100 42,517 251 320 796

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 13,356 12,975 13,270 0 0 0

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 4,091 3,961 4,576 0 0 0

Fire Operations -- Suppression 0 0 0 692 0 3,850

Fire Preparedness 0 0 30 11,085 12,796 14,393

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hazardous Fuels 255 405 355 0 100 555

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 0 0 0

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wildland Fire Management Total 17,702 17,341 18,231 11,777 12,896 18,798

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cost Pools 1,689 1,684 1,681 376,216 357,857 359,761

Range Betterment Fund 000000

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 000000

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000000

Grand Total 74,310 74,125 62,429 398,421 381,696 392,014
195 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 National Headquarters - WO National / Unallocated

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17 FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 4,234 4,808 6,979 0 800 830

Infrastructure Improvement 63 63 0 0 0 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 110 108 277 0 926 107

Roads 3,377 5,238 3,125 520 536 3,121

Trails 978 1,552 1,355 215 240 1,479

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 8,762 11,769 11,736 735 2,502 5,537

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 18,366 23,624 18,854 3,396 3,619 45,389

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 0 0 0 537

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 18,366 23,624 18,854 3,396 3,619 45,926

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 0 0 0 0 0 950

Complete Land Exchanges 0 0 0 216 216 216

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 0 0 0 1,914

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 0 0 0 750

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation 

Fund 226 121 130 38,110 55,146 30,395

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 0 0 0 4,700

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 0 0 0 2,000

Land Acquisition Total 226 121 130 38,326 55,362 40,925

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 0 0 0 1,000 0 9,570

Forest Products 12,290 16,483 22,553 555 565 3,488

Grazing Management 2,195 2,127 1,925 0 240 520

Integrated Resource Restoration 600 1,521 1,220 2,176 1,648 509

Inventory and Monitoring 37,250 39,144 0 661 415 0

Land Management Planning 8,104 7,675 0 0 240 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and 

Monitoring 0 0 49,555 0 0 536

Landownership Management 6,962 7,221 7,009 15 539 82

Law Enforcement Operations 5,332 5,329 107,069 100,562 102,479 1,687

Minerals and Geology Management 7,459 7,546 6,718 1,868 2,107 645

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 11,473 19,412 15,316 673 664 6,374

Valles Caldera National Preserve 0 0 0 3,364 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 15,363 18,194 18,039 2,219 2,053 431

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 5,277 5,499 5,784 865 792 721

National Forest System Total 112,305 130,151 235,188 113,958 111,742 24,563

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 0 0 0 2,000 2,000 2,000

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 1,154 0 0 1,313

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 737 788 859 2,656 4,447 3,365

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 6,623 7,059 6,821 3,648 5,192 4,296

Forest Legacy Program 1,152 1,098 -24 3,291 470 0

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 3,028 2,967 2,864 896 902 504

International Forestry 7,043 7,043 6,929 0 0 114

Landscape Scale Restoration 0 0 95 1,486 13,823 13,630

Urban and Community Forestry 2,362 2,334 2,338 1,720 1,564 1,592

State & Private Forestry Total 20,945 21,289 21,036 15,697 28,398 26,814

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 2,664 4,614 2,893 6,603 8,100 23,564

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 0 0 0 0 0 0

Fire Operations -- Suppression 79,563 149,475 122,460 538,108 578,588 1,120,425

Fire Preparedness 230,337 268,799 243,469 146,123 30,892 271,380

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 165 25 0 135 415 17,630

Hazardous Fuels 8,281 12,403 13,260 64,266 54,250 96,803

Joint Fire Sciences 0 0 0 6,914 6,914 3,000

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass 

Grants 0 0 0 0 0 10,000

Wildland Fire Management Total 321,010 435,316 382,082 762,149 679,159 1,542,802

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 0 0 0 303,060 823,000 342,000

Cost Pools 78,768 83,747 80,454 100,469 139,253 142,752

Range Betterment Fund 0 0 0 0 2,320 2,320

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 0 0 0 30 45 45

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 000001

Grand Total 560,382 706,017 749,480 1,337,820 1,845,400 2,173,685
196 

FY 2015 to FY 2017 Region, Station, and Area Allocations 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 Forest Service Total

Funds and Programs FY15 FY16 FY17

Capital Improvement & Maintenance

Facilities 55,331 54,164 56,078

Infrastructure Improvement 3,150 3,150 0

Legacy Roads and Trails 21,429 22,386 22,386

Roads 128,857 134,771 138,728

Trails 56,476 54,562 54,562

Capital Improvement & Maintenance Total 265,243 269,033 271,754

Forest and Rangeland Research

Forest & Rangeland Research 251,978 251,763 216,439

Forest & Rangeland Research - FIA 0 0 67,075

R&D Forest Products Lab 0 0 2,000

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 251,978 251,763 285,514

Land Acquisition

Acquisition of Lands for National Forests, Special Acts 950 950 950

Complete Land Exchanges 216 216 216

Land Acquisition - Acq Mgmt 0 0 7,552

Land Acquisition - Cash Equalization 0 0 750

Land Acquisition -- Land and Water Conservation Fund 45,586 61,521 39,413

Land Acquisition - Rec Access 0 0 4,700

Land - Critical Inholding 0 0 2,000

Land Acquisition Total 46,752 62,687 55,581

National Forest System

Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 29,473 28,516 40,000

Forest Products 194,139 200,459 212,287

Grazing Management 40,044 40,587 40,587

Integrated Resource Restoration 163,525 158,491 159,448

Inventory and Monitoring 119,438 118,331 0

Land Management Planning 28,184 27,428 0

Land Management Planning, Assessment and Monitoring 0 0 144,648

Landownership Management 56,676 56,676 54,590

Law Enforcement Operations 106,556 108,470 109,427

Minerals and Geology Management 57,283 58,240 58,343

Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 175,589 180,374 182,850

Valles Caldera National Preserve 3,364 0 0

Vegetation and Watershed Management 100,640 100,711 101,668

Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat Management 80,396 79,368 79,368

National Forest System Total 1,155,307 1,157,651 1,183,216

State & Private Forestry

Community Forest & Open Space Conservation 2,000 2,000 2,000

Cooperative Forestry - Forest Legacy Program Admin 0 0 6,400

Forest Health Management - Cooperative Lands 43,741 35,893 36,129

Forest Health Management - Federal Lands 46,482 49,352 44,973

Forest Legacy Program 52,043 61,390 55,947

Forest Resources Information and Analysis 0 0 0

Forest Stewardship 21,122 21,122 18,122

International Forestry 7,043 7,043 7,043

Landscape Scale Restoration 14,000 14,000 14,000

Urban and Community Forestry 26,126 26,126 26,126

State & Private Forestry Total 212,557 216,926 210,740

Wildland Fire Management

Coop Fire Protection-State Fire Assistance 76,086 76,085 78,000

Coop Fire Protection-Volunteer Fire Assistance 13,000 13,000 15,000

Fire Operations -- Suppression 620,913 730,612 1,248,000

Fire Preparedness 902,762 830,930 1,080,146

Fire Research and Development (NFP) 19,795 19,795 19,795

Hazardous Fuels 266,682 287,838 356,000

Joint Fire Sciences 6,914 6,914 3,000

WildLand Fire Management - HazFuels - Biomass Grants 0 0 10,000

Wildland Fire Management Total 1,906,152 1,965,174 2,809,941

FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund 303,060 823,000 342,000

Cost Pools 957,000 956,997 957,000

Range Betterment Fund 2,537 2,320 2,320

Gifts, Donations, and Bequests for Research 45 45 45

Management of NF Lands for Subsistence Uses 2,500 2,500 2,500

Grand Total 5,103,131 5,708,096 6,120,611
197 

Research and Development Field Unit Budget Report 

Overview and Budget Summary 

America’s forested ecosystems are a major national strategic asset that provide many social, ecological and 

economic benefits. The Forest Service’s broad and complex portfolios of natural resources and policy issues span 

across public and private lands. The foundation of these efforts and decisions are grounded in sound science that is 

primarily conducted by Forest Service Research and Development (R&D). Science-based management is 

fundamental to restoring, enhancing and sustainably reaping ecological, social, environmental benefits from the 

Nation’s forest and grasslands. 

Forest Service R&D installations are distributed across the 50 States and Puerto Rico. This research is administered 

by a national laboratory, an international institute and five research stations. The national laboratory and 

international institute are the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI and the International Institute of Tropical 

Forestry in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, respectively. The five stations include: 

 Northern Research Station, headquartered in Newton Square, PA  Pacific Northwest Research Station, headquartered in Portland, OR  Pacific Southwest Research Station, headquartered in Albany, CA  Rocky Mountain Research Station, headquartered in Fort Collins, CO  Southern Research Station, headquartered in Asheville, NC 

This report provides detailed actual and estimated information on Forest Service R&D expenditures in the field units 

from FY 2014 – FY 2019. 

 
198 

Forest Service Research and Development unit allocations by Research Station and fiscal years 

(Dollars in thousands) 

*

Includes funds from Other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 

Forest Products Laboratory 

The Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is the Nation’s leading Federal wood utilization research laboratory and 

serves the entire United States. The FPL develops innovative science and technology to conserve, extend and 

sustainably utilize forest resources to improve health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forest to meet the 

needs of current and future generations. 

 

Station Budget Line 

Item 

FY 

2014 

Actual 

FY 

2015 

Actual 

FY 

2016 

Actual 

FY 

2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Forest Products 

Laboratory 

Research $19,722 $20,228 $26,320 $21,722 $21,574 $21,959 

Other* 651 651 651 651 646 479 

Total 20,373 20,879 26,971 22,373 22,220 22,438 

International Institute of 

Tropical Forestry 

Research 3,154 3,024 2,773 2,689 2,670 1,460 

Other 2,467 2,410 2,552 1,917 1,903 1,219 

Total 5,621 5,434 5,325 4,606 4,573 2,679 

Northern Research Station Research 54,621 55,027 51,043 51,226 50,878 38,929 

Other 3,475 3,672 3,114 3,410 3,386 2,366 

Total 58,096 58,699 54,157 54,636 54,264 41,295 

Pacific Northwest 

Research Station 

Research 40,287 40,546 40,346 39,808 39,529 35,812 

Other 6,744 6,874 7,694 6,321 6,277 5,506 

Total 47,031 47,420 48,040 46,129 45,806 41,318 

Pacific Southwest 

Research Station 

Research 20,090 19,746 17,381 17,500 17,381 12,066 

Other 5,649 5,081 3,979 3,100 3,078 5,211 

Total 25,739 24,827 21,360 20,600 20,459 17,277 

Rocky Mountain Research 

Station 

Research 39,901 41,049 37,444 37,536 37,281 29,820 

Other 24,862 20,028 29,975 24,640 24,472 20,379 

Total 64,763 61,077 67,419 62,176 61,753 50,199 

Southern Research Station Research 48,278 48,187 46,414 47,873 38,902 28,787 

Other 3,720 3,753 3,797 1,798 3,453 2,541 

Total 51,998 51,940 50,211 49,671 42,355 31,328 

Grand Total 273,621 270,276 273,483 260,191 251,430 206,534 
199 

Forest Product Laboratory Field Unit Allocations and Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Forest Product Laboratory FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Research & Development $19,722 $20,228 $26,320 $21,722 $21,574 $21,959 

Other funding* 651 651 651 651 646 479 

Total Allocation 20,373 20,879 26,971 22,373 22,220 22,438 

Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

Scientists 52 55 55 53 53 47 

Support staff 99 100 99 97 96 88 

 Administrative Support 6 7 7 7 7 5 

 Professional/Technical 

Support 

93 93 92 90 89 83 

Breakout by Administrative and Research Allocations 

Administrative Allocation 7,106 6,966 7,008 6,596 6,550 6,556 

Research Allocation 13,267 13,913 19,963 15,777 15,670 15,882 

Total by Administrative & 

Research Allocations 

20,373 20,879 26,971 22,373 22,220 22,438 

*Includes funds from other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 

Forest Products Laboratory Research Programs 

(Dollars in thousands)

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Advanced Composite Sciences 

Research 

 

 Allocation $1,273 $1,401 $1,853 $1,733 $1,721 $1,651 

 Scientists 5 5 6 6 6 5 

 Support Staff 4 4 4 4 4 4 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 3 3 3 3 3 3 

 

Forest Biopolymer Science & 

Engineering 

 Allocation 1,959 1,998 2,879 2,232 2,216 2,384 

 Scientists 9 9 9 8 8 9 

 Support Staff 4 5 5 5 5 4 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 3 4 4 4 4 3 

 

Fiber and Chemical Sciences 

 Allocation 2,149 2,304 2,768 2,101 2,086 2,430 

 Scientists 6 6 6 5 5 6 

 Support Staff 8 8 7 7 7 7 

 Administrative 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 Professional/technical 8 8 7 7 7 7 

 

Institute for Microbial and 

Biochemical Technology 

 Allocation 1,910 1,832 2,565 2,072 2,057 2,109 

 Scientists 6 6 6 6 6 5 

 Support Staff 5 5 5 4 4 3 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 4 4 4 3 3 2 

 
200 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Engineered Properties & 

Structures 

 Allocation 2,770 2,583 3,633 2,795 2,775 2,843 

 Scientists 10 10 7 7 7 5 

 Support Staff 2 1 2 2 2 1 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 0 

 Professional/technical 1 0 1 1 1 1 

 

Wood Anatomy & Forest 

Mycology in a Changing 

Global Environment 

 Allocation 0 277 293 302 300 298 

 Scientists 0 2 3 3 3 3 

 Support Staff 0 0 0 0 0 1 

 Administrative 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 Professional/technical 0 0 0 0 0 1 

 

Fire Building Sciences 

 Allocation 0 780 874 850 844 843 

 Scientists 0 3 2 2 2 2 

 Support Staff 0 5 5 5 5 5 

 Administrative 0 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 0 4 4 4 4 4 

 

Durability &Wood Protection 

Research 

 Allocation 1,578 1,995 1,952 1,813 1,800 1,696 

 Scientists 7 6 8 8 8 7 

 Support Staff 12 12 13 13 13 7 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 0 

 Professional/technical 11 11 12 12 12 7 

 

Economics & Statistics 

Research 

 Allocation 1,588 1,464 3,030 1,911 1,898 1,949 

 Scientists 9 8 8 8 8 5 

 Support Staff 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 

Total Allocation 13,227 14,634 19,847 15,809 15,697 16,203 

Total Support Staff 36 41 42 41 41 33 

 Administrative 6 7 7 7 7 5 

 Professional/ 

 technical 30 34 35 34 34 28 

Total Scientists 52 55 55 53 53 47 

 
201 

Forest Products Laboratory Facilities 

Name Description Number of 

Scientists 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Administrative 

Number of Support 

Staff 

Professional/technical

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands)

FPL HeadquartersMadison, WI A complex of 14 

buildings co-located 

on the University of 

Wisconsin 

49 6 86 $3,300 

Wood Protection 

and Termite 

Laboratory 

Starkville, MS 4 1 4 100 

International Institute of Tropical Forestry 

The International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) is dedicated to tropical forestry on an international level and 

develops and exchanges knowledge critical to sustaining tropical ecosystem benefits. 

IITF Field Unit Allocations and Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories

 (Dollars in thousands)

*Includes funds from other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 

International Institute of Tropical Forestry Research Programs

(Dollars in thousands) 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Forest and Rangeland 

Research 

 

 Allocation $3,154 $3,024 $2,773 $2,689 $2,670 $1,460 

 Scientists 9 11 11 11 11 11 

 Support Staff 17 17 17 17 17 17 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 2 

 Professional/technical 16 16 16 16 16 15 

National Fire Plan 

 Allocation 100 100 100 100 99 80 

 Scientists 

 Support Staff 

International Institute of 

Tropical Forestry 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 Actual FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Research & Development $3,154 $3,024 $2,773 $2,689 $2,670 $1,460 

Other funding* 2,467 2,410 2,552 1,917 1,903 1,219 

Total Allocation 5,621 5,434 5,325 4,606 4,573 2,679 

Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

Scientists 9 11 11 11 11 11 

Support staff 17 17 18 18 18 17 

 Administrative Support 1 1 1 1 1 2 

 Professional/Technical 

Support 

16 16 17 17 17 15 

 

Breakout by Administrative and Research Allocations 

Administrative Allocation 1,416 1,416 1,394 1,286 1,277 1,201 

Research Allocation 4,205 4,018 3,931 3,320 3,296 1,478 

Total by Administrative & 

Research Allocations

5,621 5,434 5,325 4,606 4,573 2,679 
202 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Total Allocation 3,254 3,124 2,873 2,789 2,769 1,540 

Total Support Staff 17 17 17 17 17 17 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 2 

 Professional/ 

 technical 16 16 16 16 16 15 

Total Scientists 9 11 11 11 11 11 

International Institute of Tropical Forestry Facilities 

(Dollars in thousands)

Name Description Number 

of 

Scientists

Number of 

Support Staff 

Administrative 

Number of Support 

Staff 

Professional/Technical

Facility 

Costs

International 

Institute of Tropical 

Forestry 

Forest Service owned 

facilities on leased 

land. Headquarter 

building is leased. 

8 1 12 $369 

Sabana Field 

Research Station 

Forest Service owned 

Station 

3 1 3 41 

Northern Research Station 

The mission of the Northern Research Station (NRS) is to improve people’s lives and help sustain the natural 

resources in the Northeast and Midwest through leading-edge science and effective information delivery. The NRS 

geographically covers a twenty state region across the Midwest and Northeast, comprising both the most densely 

populated and heavily forested region in America. 

Northern Research Station Field Unit Allocations and Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories

 (Dollars in thousands)

*Includes funds from other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 

 

Northern Research Station FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Research & Development $54,621 $55,027 $51,043 $51,226 $50,878 $38,929 

Other funding* 3,475 3,672 3,114 3,410 3,386 2,366 

Total Allocation 58,096 58,699 54,157 54,636 54,264 41,295 

Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

Scientists 136 134 129 127 126 95 

Support staff 312 308 269 252 250 201 

 Administrative Support 81 75 69 70 69 54 

 Professional/Technical 

Support 

231 233 200 182 181 147 

Breakout by Administrative and Research Allocations 

Administrative Allocation $7,958 $8,381 $7,936 $7,138 $7,088 $5,915 

Research Allocation 50,138 50,318 46,221 47,498 47,176 35,380 

Total by Administrative & 

Research Allocations

58,096 58,699 54,157 54,636 54,264 41,295 
203 

Northern Research Station Research Programs

(Dollars in thousands) 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

Ecology and Economic 

Sustainability of the 

Appalachian Forest in an Era 

of Globalization Research 

 

 Allocation $2,855 $2,576 $2,719 $2,656 $2,637 $2,036 

 Scientists 9 9 9 9 9 7 

 Support Staff 16 15 16 13 13 10 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 15 14 15 12 12 9 

 

Sustaining Forests in a 

Changing Environment 

 Allocation 3,211 2,946 2,917 3,277 3,254 2,495 

 Scientists 12 12 12 12 12 8 

 Support Staff 14 15 10 10 10 7 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 13 14 9 9 9 6 

 

Ecology and Management of 

Invasive Species and Forest 

Ecosystems Research 

 Allocation 4,040 3,940 3,609 3,357 3,333 2,555 

 Scientists 12 11 10 10 10 8 

 Support Staff 22 23 21 20 20 12 

 Administrative 2 2 2 2 2 2 

 Professional/technical 20 21 19 18 18 10 

Forest Inventory and Analysis 

(FIA) in the Northern Station 

 Allocation 14,201 14,536 15,163 15,582 15,473 13,732 

 Scientists 23 22 20 18 18 18 

 Support Staff 111 109 95 88 87 84 

 Administrative 3 3 3 5 5 4 

 Professional/technical 108 106 92 83 82 80 

Climate, Fire and Carbon 

Cycle Analysis Research 

 Allocation 4,058 4,529 3,891 4,011 3,983 3,052 

 Scientists 13 13 12 11 11 8 

 Support Staff 16 16 17 15 15 10 

 Administrative 3 3 3 3 3 2 

 Professional/technical 13 13 14 12 12 8 

Research on Ecosystem 

Change 

 Allocation 7,328 6,562 4,023 5,087 5,052 3,872 

 Scientists 17 17 13 14 14 9 

 Support Staff 23 26 18 16 16 13 

 Administrative 2 2 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 21 24 17 15 15 12 

Urban Forest, Human Health 

and Environmental Quality 

Research 

 Allocation 1,576 1,470 2,701 3,431 3,407 2,421 

 Scientists 2 3 11 11 11 7 

 Support Staff 8 8 8 8 8 5 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 
204 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

 Professional/technical 7 7 7 7 7 4 

Social Science Supporting 

Natural Resource 

Management and Policy 

 Allocation 3,496 3,224 1,942 1,673 1,661 1,274 

 Scientists 11 11 7 7 7 5 

 Support Staff 6 7 3 3 3 2 

 Administrative 2 2 2 2 2 1 

 Professional/technical 4 5 1 1 1 1 

Sustainable Management of 

Central Hardwoods, 

Ecosystems and Landscapes 

Research 

 Allocation 2,275 1,624 2,279 1,377 1,367 1,027 

 Scientists 6 6 6 5 5 4 

 Support Staff 6 5 2 3 3 2 

 Administrative 1 0 0 0 0 0 

 Professional/technical 5 5 2 3 3 2 

Applied Ecosystem Research: 

Theory and Application of 

Scaling Science in Forestry 

 Allocation 1,748 2,032 1,636 1,734 1,721 1,320 

 Scientists 6 6 6 6 6 4 

 Support Staff 9 8 6 4 4 3 

 Administrative 2 2 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 7 6 5 3 3 2 

Hardwood Tree Improvement 

and Regeneration Center 

 Allocation 893 889 43 1,014 1,007 765 

 Scientists 4 4 3 4 4 3 

 Support Staff 1 1 2 2 2 1 

 Administrative 0 0 0 0 0 0 

 Professional/technical 1 1 2 2 2 1 

Strategic Foresight Research 

 Allocation 944 955 923 677 672 518 

 Scientists 4 3 3 3 3 2 

 Support Staff 2 2 2 2 2 0 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 0 

 Professional/technical 1 1 1 1 1 0 

Restoration and Conservation 

of Rural and Urban Forests 

Research 

 Allocation 5,070 4,749 4,537 4,467 4,456 3,163 

 Scientists 17 17 17 17 17 12 

 Support Staff 18 18 18 18 18 13 

 Administrative 2 2 2 2 2 1 

 

Professional/technical 16 16 16 16 16 12 

 

Total Allocation 51,695 50,032 46,383 48,343 48,023 38,230 

Total Support Staff 252 253 218 202 201 162 

 Administrative 21 20 18 20 20 15 
205 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

 Professional/ 

 technical 231 233 200 182 181 147 

Total Scientists 136 134 129 127 127 95 

Northern Research Station Facilities 

(Dollars in thousands)

Name Description Number of 

Scientists 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Administrative 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Professional/ 

technical

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands) 

Hamden/Ansonia, CT 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices, 

and the Ansonia 

Quarantine lab 

3 1 9 $150 

Evanston, IL 

FS leased admin 

space near 

Northwestern 

University 

4 2 2 140 

West Lafayette, IN 

Purdue University 

admin offices and 

laboratories 

4 0 2 0 

Amherst, MA 

University of 

Massachusetts admin 

offices 

4 0 1 90 

Baltimore, MD 

FS leased admin 

space 

3 1 6 130 

Orono/Bradley, ME 

University of Maine 

admin office 

1 0 0 0 

Lansing, MI 

FS leased admin 

space near Michigan 

State University 

5 1 3 190 

Houghton, MI 

FS owned lab and 

admin offices on 

Michigan Tech 

campus 

3 1 5 70 

Grand Rapids, MN 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices 4 2 9 80 

St. Paul, MN 

FS owned lab and 

admin offices on 

University of MN 

campus 14 15 18 160 

Columbia, MO 

University of MO 

Admin and Lab 

offices 5 0 3 0 

Durham, NH 

FS owned lab and 

admin offices on 

University of NH 

campus 13 3 13 80 

Syracuse, NY SUNY Admin Office 1 0 5 25 

New York, NY 

FS leased admin 

space 3 0 0 90 

Delaware, OH 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices 10 5 7 75 

Newtown Square, PA 

(Station Headquarters) 

FS leased admin 

space 6 15 9 440 
206 

Name Description Number of 

Scientists 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Administrative 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Professional/ 

technical

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands) 

Warren, PA 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices 6 1 3 50 

Burlington, VT 

FS leased lab and 

admin offices on 

UVM campus 3 0 2 32 

Madison, WI 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices 5 3 6 0 

Rhinelander, WI 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices 7 2 5 80 

Morgantown, WV 

FS owned lab and 

admin offices on 

WVU campus 5 2 8 130 

Parsons, WV 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices 3 2 9 40 

Princeton, WV 

FS owned laboratory 

and admin offices 4 0 5 26 

Pacific Northwest Research Station 

The mission of the Pacific Northwest Station (PNW) is to generate and communicate impartial knowledge to help 

people understand and make informed choices about natural resource management and sustainability. 

Pacific Northwest Research Station Field Unit Allocations and Staffing by Science 

and Administrative Categories

(Dollars in thousands)

*Includes funds from other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 

Pacific Northwest 

Research Station 

FY 2014 

Actual

FY 2015 

Actual

FY 2016 

Actual

FY 2017 

Actual

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

Research & 

Development 

$40,287 $40,546 $40,346 $39,808 $39,529 $35,812 

Other funding* 6,744 6,874 7,694 6,321 6,277 5,506 

Total Allocation 47,031 47,420 48,040 46,129 45,806 41,318 

Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

Scientists 78 79 76 75 74 77 

Support staff 223 216 237 242 240 242 

 Administrative 

Support 

66 68 73 69 68 69 

 

Professional/Technical 

Support 

157 148 164 173 172 173 

 

Breakout by Administrative and Research Allocations 

Administrative 

Allocation 14,391 15,281 14,483 11,397 11,314 10,318

Research Allocation 32,640 32,139 33,557 34,732 34,492 31,000

Total Administrative & 

Research Allocations 47,031 47,420 48,040 46,129 45,806 41,318
207 

Pacific Northwest Research Station Research Programs 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

Ecological Process and 

Function 

 

 Allocation $5,566 $4,976 $5,268 $4,982 $4,947 $4,815 

 Scientists 

16 17 17 18 18 18 

 Support Staff 20 21 23 21 21 21 

 Administrative 

1 1 2 2 2 2 

 Professional/technical 19 20 21 19 19 19 

Goods, Services and Values 

 Allocation 3,147 3,330 3,588 3,164 3,141 3,058 

 Scientists 13 14 14 14 14 14 

 Support Staff 2 2 3 3 3 3 

 Administrative 1 1 2 2 2 2 

 Professional/technical 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Land and Watershed 

Management 

 Allocation 4,625 4,589 4,756 4,873 4,839 4,709 

 Scientists 16 15 14 15 15 15 

 Support Staff 22 23 26 23 23 23 

 Administrative 2 2 2 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 20 21 24 22 22 22 

Forest Inventory and 

Analysis/Resource 

Monitoring and Assessment 

 Allocation 10,959 11,902 13,929 14,374 14,273 13,893 

 Scientists 13 13 12 12 12 12 

 Support Staff 91 86 93 104 103 104 

 Administrative 4 4 5 5 5 5 

 Professional/technical 87 82 88 99 99 99 

Threat Characterization and 

Management 

 Allocation 2,937 2,682 2,360 2,228 2,212 2,153 

 Scientists 18 18 17 16 16 16 

 Support Staff 15 13 15 14 14 14 

 Administrative 0 2 1 2 2 2 

 Professional/technical 15 11 14 12 12 12 

Total Allocation 27,234 27,479 29,901 29,621 29,412 28,628 

Total Support Staff 150 145 160 165 165 165 

 Administrative 8 10 12 12 12 12 

 Professional/ 

 technical 142 135 148 153 153 153 

Total Scientists 76 77 74 75 75 75 

1

Annualized Continuing Resolution 

 
208 

Pacific Northwest Research Station - Facilities 

Name Description Number of 

Scientists 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Administrative

Number of Support Staff 

Professional/technical 

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands) 

Station 

Directors 

Office 

GSA Leased 

Space 

0 23 10 $410 

Anchorage GSA Leased 

Space 1 1 27 261 

Corvallis Owned Space 22 10 25 1,162 

Fairbanks University of 

Alaska Leased 

Space 1 0 0 0 

Juneau Owned Space 4 4 4 154 

La Grande Owned Space 4 5 10 128 

Olympia Owned Space 9 3 11 157 

Portland GSA Leased 

Space 13 5 27 628 

Prineville NFS Leased 

Space 0 3 3 50 

Seattle GSA Leased 

Space 13 3 5 484 

Sitka Leased Space 2 0 0 11 

Wenatchee Owned Space 5 4 2 177 

Pacific Southwest Research Station 

The Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) provides research to inform management and conservation efforts in 

the unique ecosystems of California, Hawaii, and the U.S. affiliated Pacific Islands. These include the nation’s 

lowest and driest desert, the highest elevations within the 48 contiguous States, and rich native plant and animal 

diversity, including nearly half of the nation’s threatened and endangered species. 

Pacific Southwest Research Station Field Unit Allocations and Staffing by Science 

and Administrative Categories

(Dollars in thousands) 

PSW Research Station FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

Research & Development $20,090 $19,746 $17,381 $17,500 $17,381 $12,066 

Other funding* 5,649 5,081 3,979 3,100 3,078 5,211 

Total Allocation 25,739 24,827 21,360 20,600 20,459 17,277 

Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

Scientists 40 38 38 37 35 33 

Support staff 115 116 115 115 112 109 

 Administrative Support 37 37 39 40 39 38 

 Professional/Technical 

Support 78 79 76 75 73 71 

Breakout by Administrative and Research Allocations 

Administrative Allocation 5,800 5,500 5,000 5,000 4,965 4,364 

Research Allocation 19,939 19,327 16,361 15,600 15,494 12,913 

Total Admin and Research 

Allocation 

25,739 24,827 21,360 20,600 20,459 17,277 

*2Includes funds from other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 
209 

Pacific Southwest Research Station Research Programs

(Dollars in thousands) 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Conservation of Biodiversity (CB) 

 Allocation $3,900 $4,000 $4,000 $3,700 $3,674 $3,308 

 Scientists 11 10 10 8 8 7 

 Support Staff 32 32 31 30 30 28 

 Administrative 

3 3 3 3 3 3 

 Professional/technical 29 29 28 27 27 25 

Ecosystem Function and Health 

(EFH) 

 Allocation 4,000 4,150 4,100 4,200 4,170 3,675 

 Scientists 12 11 10 10 10 9 

 Support Staff 26 27 25 25 25 23 

 Administrative 2 2 2 2 2 2 

 Professional/technical 24 25 23 23 23 21 

 

Fire and Fuels (FF) 

 Allocation 2,600 2,500 2,700 2,600 2,582 2,389 

 Scientists 7 6 7 7 7 6 

 Support Staff 13 13 13 13 13 13 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 12 12 12 12 12 12 

Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry 

(IPIF) 

 Allocation 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,100 2,085 1,929 

 Scientists 6 6 6 7 7 7 

 Support Staff 14 14 14 14 14 14 

 Administrative 2 2 2 2 2 2 

 Professional/technical 12 12 12 12 12 12 

Urban Ecosystems and Social 

Dynamics (UESD) 

 Allocation 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,300 1,291 1,134 

 Scientists 4 5 5 5 5 4 

 Support Staff 2 2 2 2 2 2 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Total Allocation 13,800 13,850 14,000 13,900 13,802 12,435 

Total Support Staff 87 88 85 84 82 80 

 Administrative 9 9 9 9 9 9 

 Professional/technical 78 79 76 75 75 71 

Total Scientists 40 38 38 37 37 33 

 
210 

Pacific Southwest Research Station - Facilities 

Name Description Scientists Support Staff 

Administrative

Support Staff 

Professional/technical 

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands)

Albany, CA Station Headquarters 

– space is co-located 

with and leased from 

ARS, near University 

of California-Berkeley 

3 16 5 $105 

Arcata, CA Space co-located with 

Humboldt State 

University – primarily 

watershed, wildlife, 

and fisheries research 

2 1 16 75 

Davis, CA Located near 

University of 

California-Davis and 

has PSW’s largest lab 

10 6 6 495 

Fresno, CA Space co-located with 

Cal State-Fresno. 

Provides access to 

Sierra Nevada and at 

the San Joaquin 

Experimental Range 

1 0 3 90 

Hilo, HI Location of the 

Institute for Pacific 

Island Forestry 

7 4 11 210 

Placerville, 

CA 

Houses the Institute of 

Forest Genetics and 

provides a central 

location in the Sierra 

Nevada for 

partnerships and 

research 

0 5 2 85 

Redding, CA Space co-located with 

Forest Service Region 

5 and provides a 

central location in 

Northern California 

for partnerships and 

research 

4 1 8 290 

Riverside, CA Primary Southern 

California office, 

located near 

University of 

California - Riverside 

9 3 14 150 

Rocky Mountain Research Station 

The Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) develops and delivers scientific knowledge and innovative 

technology to improve the health and use of the Nation’s forests and rangelands – both public and private - in 12 

non-coastal western States. This Station includes 52 National Forests, 17 National Grasslands, and over 101 million 

acres of Forest Service managed lands. 

 
211 

Rocky Mountain Research Station Field Unit Allocations and Staffing by Science 

 and Administrative Categories

(Dollars in thousands) 

Rocky Mountain Research 

Station 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

Research & Development $39,901 $41,049 $37,444 $37,536 $37,272 $29,820 

Other funding* 24,862 20,028 29,975 24,640 24,468 20,379 

Total Allocation 64,763 61,077 67,419 62,176 61,740 50,199 

Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

Scientists 95 93 94 96 95 98 

Support staff 

 Administrative Support 37 37 37 34 34 33 

 Professional/Technical 

Support 237 249 223 230 228 231 

Breakout by Administrative and Research Allocations 

Administrative Allocation 17,273 15,249 16,698 13,619 13,523 11,375 

Research Allocation 47,490 45,828 50,721 48,557 48,217 38,824 

Total by Administrative & 

Research Allocations 64,763 61,077 67,419 62,176 61,740 50,199 

*Includes funds from other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 

Rocky Mountain Research Station Research Programs

(Dollars in thousands) 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Aldo Leopold Wilderness 

Research Institute (ALWRI) 

 

 Allocation $1,016 $1,198 $1,749 $1,605 $1,534 $1,123 

 Scientists 3 3 3 3 3 3 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 1 1 1 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 3 5 4 4 4 4 

 

Air, Water and Aquatics 

Environments (AWAE) 

 Allocation 4,903 4,479 4,411 3,880 3,852 2,849 

 Scientists 15 14 14 15 15 14 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 4 4 4 4 4 4 

 Professional/technical 29 30 21 20 20 20 

 

Fire, Fuel and Smoke (FFS) 

 Allocation 7,340 7,029 7,604 6,694 6,647 5,267 

 Scientists 15 16 17 16 16 18 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 9 9 9 8 8 8 

 Professional/technical 40 40 42 48 48 50 

 

Forest Inventory and 

Analysis (FIA) 

 Allocation 11,559 10,829 12,865 12,000 11,916 10,785 

 Scientists 3 3 3 4 4 4 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 7 7 7 7 7 7 

 Professional/technical 89 96 89 90 89 96 
212 

Description of Research 

Program 

FY 2014 

Actual 

FY 2015 

Actual 

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

 

Forest and Woodlands 

Ecosystems (FWE) 

 Allocation 6,891 7,044 6,143 6,538 6,492 5,011 

 Scientists 18 17 17 18 18 17 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 5 5 5 4 4 3 

 Professional/technical 29 24 23 22 22 20 

 

Grassland, Shrubland, and 

Desert Ecosystems (GSD) 

 Allocation 3,296 3,468 3,511 3,973 3,945 2,739 

 Scientists 14 13 13 15 15 16 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 5 5 5 5 5 5 

 Professional/technical 19 18 14 14 14 12 

 

Human Dimensions (HD) 

 Allocation 4,390 3,378 3,662 4,042 4,014 3,179 

 Scientists 15 14 14 15 15 16 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 2 2 2 1 1 1 

 Professional/technical 

11 11 14 15 15 11 

 

Wildlife and Terrestrial 

Ecosystems (WTE) 

 Allocation 3,398 3,057 3,178 2,617 2,599 1,677 

 Scientists 12 11 11 10 10 10 

 Support Staff 

 Administrative 4 4 4 4 4 4 

 Professional/technical 17 25 16 17 17 18 

 

Other Research Units* 

 Allocation 4,697 5,346 7,598 7,208 7,218 6,194 

 

Total Allocation 47,490 45,828 50,721 48,557 48,217 38,824 

Total Support Staff 274 286 260 264 263 264 

 Administrative 37 37 37 34 34 33 

 Professional/ technical 237 249 223 230 229 231 

Total Scientists 95 91 92 96 96 98 

*Other Research Units include (1) Human Performance Research, Development and Application (RD&A), (2) Innovation and 

Organizational Learning RD&A, (3) National Fire Decision Support Center, (4) National Interagency Fuels, Fire and Vegetation 

Technology Transfer, and (5) Wildland Fire Management RD&A. Staff for Other Research Units embedded in the above 

Programs and cannot be easily separated. 

Rocky Mountain Research Station - Facilities 

Name Description Number of 

Scientists 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Administrative 

Number of Support Staff 

Professional/technical

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands) 

Albuquerque, NM Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

2 2 5 $158 

Boise, ID Aquatic Sciences 

Laboratory 

6 3 19 210 

Bozeman, MT Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

4 1 7 95 
213 

Name Description Number of 

Scientists 

Number of 

Support Staff 

Administrative 

Number of Support Staff 

Professional/technical

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands) 

Flagstaff, AZ Southwest Forest 

Sciences 

Complex 

7 3 10 226 

Fort Collins, CO Station 

Headquarters & 

Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

21 17 42 294 

Logan, UT Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

1 2 2 100 

Missoula, MT Fire Sciences 

Laboratory 17 6 41 300 

Missoula, MT Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

14 4 27 219 

Moscow Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

9 2 14 165 

Ogden Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

3 7 35 508 

Provo Shrub Sciences 

Laboratory 

4 1 5 122 

Rapid City Forest and 

Grassland 

Research 

Laboratory 

3 1 1 68 

Reno Forestry Sciences 

Laboratory 

1 0 1 57 

Southern Research Station 

The mission of Southern Research Station (SRS) is to improve people’s lives and help sustain the natural resources 

in the Southeast through leading-edge science and effective information delivery. SRS is one of the largest forestry 

research stations in the world extending across 13 States. SRS’s internal capacity for scientific research is enriched 

and extended through 19 experimental forests and networks of partnerships with other researchers, practitioners, and 

volunteers from a variety of groups and organizations. 

Southern Research Station Field Unit Allocations and Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Southern Research Station 

FY 2014 

Actual

FY 2015 

Actual

FY 2016 

Actual

FY 2017 

Actual

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget

Research & Development $48,278 $48,187 $46,414 $47,873 $38,902 $28,787 

Other funding2 3,720 3,753 3,797 1,798 3,453 2,541 

Total Allocation 51,998 51,940 50,211 49,671 42,355 31,328 

Staffing by Science and Administrative Categories 

Scientists 110 102 105 106 103 103 

Support staff 233 227 225 229 193 193 

 Administrative Support - - - - 35 35 

 Professional/Technical Support - - - - 158 158 

Breakout by Administrative and Research Allocations 

Administrative Allocation 6,857 7,732 7,156 6,861 6,035 4,466 

Research Allocation 45,141 44,208 43,055 42,810 36,320 22,862 

Total Administrative & 

Research Allocations

51,998 51,940 50,211 49,671 42,355 31,328 

Includes funds from other Forest Service budget line items such as the National Fire Plan and the Joint Fire Sciences Program 

from the Wildland Fire budget line item. 
214 

Southern Research Station Research Programs 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Description of Research 

Program

FY 2014 

Actual

FY 2015 

Actual

FY 2016 

Actual

FY 2017 

Actual

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Center for Bottomland 

Hardwoods (RWU-4155) 

 

 Allocation $4,940 $5,138 $4,323 $4,585 $3,148 $2,310 

 Scientists 16 14 15 15 12 12 

 Support Staff 19 19 18 18 15 15 

 Administrative - - - - 3 3 

 Professional/technical - - - - 12 12 

Center for Forest Disturbance 

Science (RWU-4156) 

 Allocation 2,766 2,880 2,689 1,235 2,317 1,700 

 Scientists 8 7 7 7 8 8 

 Support Staff 15 11 12 12 12 12 

 Administrative - - - - 5 5 

 Professional/technical - - - - 7 7 

Upland Hardwood Ecology and 

Management (RWU-4157) 

 Allocation 2,375 2,603 2,214 2,674 1,893 1,399 

 Scientists 7 7 8 8 8 7 

 Support Staff 11 17 15 15 10 10 

 Administrative - - - - 2 2 

 Professional/technical - - - - 8 8 

Restoring and Managing Longleaf 

Pine Ecosystems (RWU-4158) 

 Allocation 2,357 2,154 1,881 1,814 1,245 928 

 Scientists 6 4 5 5 4 4 

 Support Staff 9 8 7 7 7 7 

 Administrative - - - - 1 1 

 Professional/technical - - - - 6 6 

Southern Pine Ecology and 

Management (RWU-4159) 

 Allocation 2,541 2,626 2,278 2,528 1,705 1,262 

 Scientists 6 5 5 5 7 7 

 Support Staff 11 15 15 15 9 9 

 Administrative - - - - 2 2 

 Professional/technical - - - - 7 7 

Forest Genetics and Ecosystems 

Biology (RWU-4160) 

 Allocation 3,241 3,016 2,660 2,563 1,755 1,299 

 Scientists 6 5 6 6 6 6 

 Support Staff 14 13 12 12 12 12 

 Administrative - - - - 1 1 

 Professional/technical - - - - 11 11 

Center for Forest Watershed 

Science (RWU-4353) 

 Allocation 3,328 3,329 2,820 3,279 2,080 1,495 

 Scientists 11 12 12 12 12 12 

 Support Staff 21 18 17 17 17 17 

 Administrative - - - - 2 2 

 Professional/technical - - - - 15 15 
215 

Description of Research 

Program

FY 2014 

Actual

FY 2015 

Actual

FY 2016 

Actual

FY 2017 

Actual

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Insects, Diseases, and Invasive 

Plants (RWU-4552) 

 Allocation 4,856 3,773 3,226 3,063 2,125 1,572 

 Scientists 9 9 8 8 8 8 

 Support Staff 24 13 13 13 12 12 

 Administrative - - - - 1 1 

 Professional/technical - - - - 11 11 

 

Forest Operations Research to 

Achieve Sustainable Management 

(RWU-4703) 

 Allocation 1,044 1,047 957 968 694 513 

 Scientists 2 2 2 2 2 2 

 Support Staff 7 5 5 5 4 4 

 Administrative - - - - - - 

 Professional/technical - - - - 4 4 

 

Utilization of Southern Forest 

Resources (RWU-4704) 

 Allocation 1,741 1,889 1,698 1,561 1,121 896 

 Scientists 5 4 4 4 3 3 

 Support Staff 5 5 5 5 5 5 

 Administrative - - - - 1 1 

 Professional/technical - - - - 4 4 

 

Forest Inventory and Analysis 

(RWU-4801) 

 Allocation 14,832 15,268 17,661 18,184 17,772 13,145 

 Scientists 13 13 13 14 12 12 

 Support Staff 70 78 81 85 69 69 

 Administrative - - - - 9 9 

 Professional/technical - - - - 60 60 

 

Forest Economics and Policy 

(RWU-4804) 

 Allocation 1,603 1,689 1,585 1,221 1,207 893 

 Scientists 5 5 5 5 6 6 

 Support Staff 6 6 6 6 4 4 

 Administrative - - - - 2 2 

 Professional/technical - - - - 2 2 

 

Eastern Forest Environmental 

Threat Assessment Center (RWU4854) 

 Allocation 4,104 4,058 4,024 3,634 3,237 2395 

 Scientists 9 8 8 8 9 9 

 Support Staff 16 13 13 13 11 11 

 Administrative - - - - 3 3 

 Professional/technical - - - - 8 8 

 

Center for Integrated Forest 

Science (RWU-4855) 

 Allocation 909 925 878 1,196 891 659 

 Scientists 2 2 2 2 2 2 

 Support Staff 1 1 

 Administrative - - - - 1 1 
216 

Description of Research 

Program

FY 2014 

Actual

FY 2015 

Actual

FY 2016 

Actual

FY 2017 

Actual

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

 Professional/technical - - - - - - 

 

Integrating Human and Natural 

Systems (RWU-4952) 

 Allocation 1,361 1,545 1,317 1,166 1,165 862 

 Scientists 5 5 5 5 5 5 

 Support Staff 5 5 5 5 5 5 

 Administrative - - - - 2 2 

 Professional/technical - - - - 3 3 

 

Total Allocation 51,998 51,940 50,211 49,671 42,355 31,328 

Total Support Staff 233 227 225 229 193 193 

 Administrative - - - - 35 35 

 Professional/ 

 technical - - - - 158 158 

Total Scientists 

110 102 105 106 103 103 

Southern Research Station – Facilities 

Name Description Scientists Support Staff 

Administrative 

Support Staff 

Professional/Technic

al

Facility Costs 

(Dollars in 

thousands) 

Asheville, NC FS owned 

Headquarters Building 

9 26 22 $251 

Bent Creek/Koen 

Asheville, NC 

FS owned laboratory, 

greenhouse & 

administrative offices 

4 1 2 9 

Coweeta 

Otto, NC 

FS owned hydrologic 

laboratory 

7 1 5 79 

Research Triangle Park, 

Durham, NC 

FS owned laboratory 

& greenhouses 

12 4 6 2,086 

Auburn/Escambia 

Auburn, AL 

FS owned laboratory 

& greenhouse 

7 1 6 7 

Crossett Experimental 

Forest, Crossett, AR 

FS owned 

administrative office 

2 0 0 5 

Athens/Hitchiti 

Athens, GA 

FS owned laboratory 

& administrative 

offices 

13 7 10 726 

Pineville/Palustris 

Pineville, LA 

FS owned laboratory 

& greenhouse 

11 2 15 5 

Saucier/Harrison 

Saucier, MS 

FS owned laboratory 

& greenhouse 

2 1 3 14 

Stoneville/Oxford 

Stoneville/Oxford, MS 

FS owned laboratory 

& greenhouse 12 3 12 34 

Santee 

Cordesville, SC 

FS owned laboratory 

& administrative 

Offices 

2 1 2 2 

Savannah River 

New Ellenton, SC 

FS owned 

administrative office 

1 1 1 1 

Nacogdoches 

Nacogdoches, TX FS owned laboratory 

7 1 1 39 

Blacksburg 

Blacksburg, VA FS owned laboratory 

6 0 1 0 
217 

Forest Service Research and Development Expenditures by State 

(Dollars in thousands) 

 

State Station FY 2017 Enacted FY 2018 

Annualized CR

FY 2019 

President’s Budget 

ALABAMA SRS $2,471 $2,454 $1,646 

ALASKA PNW 6,919 6,870 6,210 

ARIZONA RMRS 2,652 2,633 2,036 

ARKANSAS SRS 2,052 2,038 1,346 

CALIFORNIA PSW/PNW 17,950/2,768 17,824/2,748 15,374/2,898 

COLORADO RMRS 11,786 11,703 9,050 

CONNECTICUT NRS 1,771 1,759 1,156 

DELAWARE NRS 0 0 0 

FLORIDA SRS 816 810 596 

GEORGIA SRS 3,329 3,305 2,212 

HAWAII PSW 2,650 2,588 2,389 

IDAHO RMRS 4,697 4,664 3,606 

ILLINOIS NRS 1,171 1,163 894 

INDIANA NRS 1,014 1,007 766 

IOWA NRS 0 0 0 

KANSAS RMRS 0 0 0 

KENTUCKY SRS 506 502 341 

LOUISIANA SRS 3,926 3,898 2,652 

MAINE NRS 234 232 163 

MARYLAND NRS 1,839 1,826 1,232 

MASSACHUSETTS NRS 1,243 1,234 999 

MICHIGAN NRS 3,052 3,031 2,440 

MINNESOTA NRS 10,588 10,514 8,095 

MISSISSIPPI SRS 5,673 5,633 3,682 

MISSOURI NRS 2,359 2,342 1,872 

MONTANA RMRS 11,325 11,246 8,696 

NEBRASKA RMRS 0 0 0 

NEVADA RMRS 287 285 220 

NEW HAMPSHIRE NRS 5,436 5,398 4,302 

NEW JERSEY NRS 286 284 219 

NEW MEXICO RMRS 618 615 475 

NEW YORK NRS 2,819 2,799 2,328

NORTH CAROLINA SRS 9,193 9,128 6,170 

NORTH DAKOTA RMRS 0 0 0 

OHIO NRS 3,753 3,727 2,598 

OKLAHOMA RMRS/SRS 0/92 0/91 0/77 

OREGON PNW 25,832 25,651 23,597 

PENNSYLVANIA NRS 9,693 9,623 7,192 

PUERTO RICO IITF/SRS 2,689/273 2,670/271 1,460/245 

RHODE ISLAND NRS 0 0 0 

SOUTH CAROLINA SRS 1,933 1,919 1,668 

SOUTH DAKOTA RMRS 782 776 601 

TENNESSEE SRS 14,688 14,585 13,029 

TEXAS SRS 1,691 1,679 1,212 

UTAH RMRS 13,633 13,537 10,468 

VERMONT NRS 667 62 379 

VIRGINIA SRS 1,068 1,060 723 

WASHINGTON PNW 25,832 25,651 23,597 

WEST VIRGINIA NRS 4,579 4,546 3,580 

WISCONSIN FPL 22,373 22,216 22,483 

WISCONSIN NRS 4,132 4,103 3,143 

WYOMING RMRS 127 126 2,985 
218 

Stewardship Contracting 

Background

This special exhibit is included to address requirements of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (as amended, 

16 U.S.C 6591c): 

“The Forest Service shall report annually to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and 

the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives on - 

 the status of development, execution, and administration of contracts under subsection (b); 

 the specific accomplishments that have resulted; and 

 the role of local communities in development of agreements or contract plans.” 

Overview 

Stewardship contracts and agreements are used to manage natural resources by implementing ecosystem restoration 

projects. Stewardship contracts support new and emerging markets through the use of wood removed through 

restoration activities, including using woody biomass for energy, in addition to sustaining traditional markets. 

Stewardship contracting helps the Forest Service achieve land and natural resource management goals while 

promoting closer public-private working relationships by using the value of timber or other forest products to offset 

the cost of restoration activities. The best value selection using criteria such as capability, use of local workforce, 

creation of jobs, and price is intended to create green jobs, promote a diverse forest products industry, and support 

sustainable communities and the forest contractor infrastructure needed to perform critical restoration work. 

If the offset value of timber or other forest products from stewardship sales exceeds the value of resource 

improvement treatments conducted to accomplish land management objectives, those receipts are retained and 

deposited in the Stewardship Contracting fund and are available, until expended, for other authorized stewardship 

projects. Stewardship contracts are awarded on a best-value basis and may be up to 10 years in duration. The 

Stewardship Contracting authority may be used for: 

 maintaining or removing roads and trails to restore or maintain water quality; 

 improving soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries, or other resources; 

 prescribed fires to improve the composition, structure, condition, and health of timber stands or wildlife 

habitat; 

 removing vegetation or other activities to promote healthy forests, reduce fire hazards, or achieve other 

land management objectives; 

 restoring and maintaining watersheds; 

 restoring and maintaining wildlife and fisheries habitat; 

 controlling noxious and invasive weeds; and 

 replanting native vegetation. 

While the number of stewardship projects changes from year to year, the agency and its partners have a better 

understanding of how to best use stewardship contracts, which has resulted in projects of larger size. 

In FY 2017, the agency continued to inform employees, partner organizations, and contractors about stewardship 

contracting through brochures, local field trips, and both live and on-line training opportunities. This ensures a 

common understanding of stewardship contracting and facilitates its use in attaining land management goals while 

meeting local and rural community needs. 

Specific Accomplishments 

Stewardship contracting has proved to be a valuable tool in many locations to implement restoration activities and 

meet multiple land management objectives. Stewardship contracting allows the Forest Service to focus on a variety 

of land management activities, such as hazardous fuels reduction, wildlife habitat improvement, forest health 

improvement, and non-native invasive plant species control. 
219 

Table 1 below shows specific actual accomplishments during FY 2013 to FY 2017. Table 2 below shows the acres 

awarded, number of contract or agreements awarded, and volume awarded from FY 2003 to FY 2017. The number 

of contracts or agreements awarded includes those where forest products are exchanged for service activities as well 

as those where excess Stewardship Contracting funds are used to pay for service activities without the exchange of 

forest products. 

In many cases, multiple land management objectives are met through a single treatment activity. For example, a 

hazardous fuel reduction treatment can also improve wildlife habitat. These accomplishments not only result in 

ecosystem benefits, but also in forest products for manufacturing and energy production, and the creation of jobs 

contributing to sustainable communities. 

Local Communities 

Collaboration with local communities is a key component of successful stewardship contracting. Collaborative 

efforts start early and continue throughout project planning, implementation, and monitoring. Collaboration during 

the development of stewardship contracting projects results in a sense of community ownership in the project, a 

better understanding by communities of natural resource issues, and increased public support. Collaboration also 

means the Forest Service can tailor stewardship offerings that address local issues, needs, and capabilities. 

The Forest Service has contracted with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation to conduct a programmatic multiparty 

monitoring process for FY 2017. In prior years, the Pinchot Institute found that stewardship contracting was 

maturing and support has grown significantly. One of the major benefits identified is that stewardship contracting 

offers increased opportunities to frame a set of collaboratively-defined desired conditions. Participants increasingly 

welcome the use of stewardship agreements as a way to involve more stakeholders, increase learning opportunities, 

and positively influence forest management planning. In the FY 2016 report, Pinchot concluded that partnerships 

and working relationships were generally strengthened by working towards common goals. The results of the FY 

2017 programmatic monitoring efforts by the Pinchot Institute will be available in the spring of 2018. When 

available, the entire report will be online at: http://www.pinchot.org/gp/Stewardship_Contracting 

Table 1. Actual Stewardship Contracting 

Accomplishments (FY 2014 to FY 2017) 

Accomplishment FY 2014

Actual

FY 2015

Actual

FY 2016 

Actual 

FY 2017 

Actual 

Acres of forest vegetation established 5,167 6,865 5,050 4,312 

Acres of forest vegetation improved 50,399 44,702 42,634 45,346 

Acres of noxious weeds/invasive plant treatments 4,035 3,024 5,434 4,279 

Acres of wildlife habitat restored or improved 15,679 66,744 22,133 14,031 

Miles of stream habitat restored or enhanced 15 82 48 81 

Miles of roads decommissioned 21 29 10 3 

Volume of timber sold (million board feet (MMBF)) 816 829 718 855 

Green tons of biomass made available for energy 

production 

247,541 323,830 217,698 222,636 

Acres of hazardous fuels treated to reduce the risk of 

catastrophic fires (Non-WUI) 

82,894 66,169 79,694 90,968 

Acres of wildland-urban interface (WUI) highpriority hazardous fuels treated 96,567 73,072 96,387 118,559 

Number of stewardship contracts/agreements 

contributing to watersheds in fully functioning 

condition 

25 1 2 5 
220 

Table 2. Acres Awarded, Number of Contract or Agreements 

Awarded, and Volume Awarded 

Fiscal Year Acres 

Awarded 

Number of 

Contracts & 

Agreements 

Volume Awarded (hundred 

cubic feet - MBF) 

2003 11,696 35 35,000 

2004 43,187 53 51,000 

2005 34,491 43 98,000 

2006 60,344 91 236,000 

2007 77,676 110 331,000 

2008 65,890 130 339,000 

2009 88,304 141 372,000 

2010 152,834 232 567,000 

2011 100,577 208 481,000 

2012 134,257 226 672,000 

2013 171,767 195 709,000 

2014 177,208 161 816,000 

2015 166,317 168 829,000 

2016 166,462 225 718,000 

2017 153,868 221 855,000 

 
221 

Transition to Second Growth in Alaska 

Background 

This exhibit is not required by Congressional direction but is included to provide an update on the status of the 

transition to second growth in Alaska. 

Overview 

The State of Alaska and the Forest Service State and Private Forestry program have entered into a Challenge Cost 

Share Agreement (CCSA) to conduct a young growth inventory and support workforce development for the timber 

industry. The inventory is well underway, and local residents have been successfully trained and are now working in 

various forestry-related jobs in Southeast Alaska. 

Inventory Efforts 

State and partner organization crews have collected data on over 24,500 acres of older young growth stands on 

Prince of Wales and surrounding islands. Forest Service and State personnel are summarizing the data collected into 

stand-level analyses of logging feasibility to determine how many of those older young growth acres will be 

operable during near-term project implementation. Another 11,000 acres are scheduled for inventory in FY 2018. 

A two-week Forestry Workforce Academy to develop a forestry workforce in small rural communities has 

completed its second year. Seven Southeast Alaska residents were trained and hired for inventory work under the 

agreement in FY 2016. The FY 2017 Academy resulted in the State and Forest Service hiring six more individuals 

for the inventory cruise. Three other individuals may be hired in early FY 2018 by the Forest Service through 

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act hiring authorities. 

Old-Growth Bridge Timber 

Forest Service crews at Prince of Wales, Ketchikan, and Petersburg are also focused on stand-level, data-driven 

inventories of old growth timber stands to support timber sales in the current five-year sale schedule. The State and 

Tongass National Forest are in discussions about bringing in additional support for old growth inventory under the 

CCSA. The Forest Service and Alaska Forest Association have developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 

to support collaborative efforts on old growth inventory, project development, and organizational learning around 

timber sale conditions impacting the industry. This MOU was signed in the second quarter of FY 2017, with 

implementation of specific tasks during the FY 2017 field season. Additional training and mentoring tasks are 

anticipated in FY 2018 and beyond. 

Other Ongoing Efforts in Support of the Transition 

The Forest Service and other landowners in Southeast Alaska have established an all-landowners group to 

coordinate operations, find efficiencies, and share infrastructure to support resource management activities. Group 

members include the Forest Service, Alaska Division of Forestry, Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office, 

University of Alaska, and Sealaska. 

To support utilization of wood products from the forest, the agency is also evaluating the potential design of a wood 

quality study to determine the type, volume, and quality of products that can be manufactured from young growth 

Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees growing in Southeast Alaska. 

The Forest Service Alaska Region and the State of Alaska have entered into a Master Good Neighbor Authority 

agreement and developed a Supplemental Project Agreement for the Koscuiscko Young Growth Timber Sale. The 

Sale was offered and awarded by the State of Alaska in late FY 2017 and operations have commenced. Additional 

Good Neighbor Authority projects are anticipated for young growth as soon as late FY 2018. 

The Forest Service is continuing the Tongass-Wide Young Growth Study, begun in 2002, to increase knowledge of 

silvicultural practices for various purposes including young growth management. 

 
222 

Unobligated Balances 

Background 

This exhibit is not required by Congressional direction but is included to provide an update on the status of Forest 

Service unobligated balances. 

Overview 

The following table contains the Forest Service unobligated balances from all prior year appropriated funds (regular 

and emergency) carried forward into FY 2018. The table does not include the unobligated balances from offsetting 

collections such as reimbursable or advanced collections. 

FY 2017 Forest Service – Unobligated Balances – End of Year 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Forest Service Appropriations Budget Line Item/Program 

FY 2017 

Unobligated 

Balance 

Forest and Rangeland Research National Fire Plan Research and Development $176 

 Forest Inventory and Analysis 327 

 R&D Forest Products Lab 23 

 R&D Joint Fire Science Program 310 

 Research and Development Programs 796 

 Other Forest & Rangeland Research Programs (Includes Cost Pools) 167 

Forest and Rangeland Research Total 1,799 

State and Private Forestry Cooperative Fire Protection – State Fire Assistance1 1,097 

 Forest Health Management – Cooperative Lands 552 

 Forest Health Management – Federal Lands 421 

 International Forestry 1,342 

 Landscape Scale Restoration 88 

 Cooperative Forestry – Community Forest & Open Space 212 

 Cooperative Forestry – Forest Stewardship 472 

 Cooperative Forestry – Urban &Community Forestry 459 

 Cooperative Fire Protection – Volunteer Fire Assistance1 11 

 Other State & Private Forestry Programs & Allocation (Includes Cost 

Pools) 

247 

State and Private Forestry Total 4,901 

National Forest System Law Enforcement Operations -731 

 Land Ownership Management 761 

 Minerals and Geology Management 2,599 

 Land Management Planning 1,043 

 Grazing Management 137 

 Restoration Partnerships 60 

 Integrated Resource Restoration 629 

 Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 1,407 

 Forest Products 163 

 Vegetation and Watershed Management 1,189 

 Wildland and Fish Habitat Management 969 

 Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund 1,928 

 Other National Forest System Programs and Allocations (Included 

Cost Pools) 

614 

National Forest System Total 10,768 

Capital Improvement and 

Maintenance 

Facilities 554 

 Roads 485 

 Trails 155 

 Legacy Roads and Trails 115 

 Deferred Maintenance 6 

 Other Capital Improvement & Maintenance Programs (Includes Cost 

Pools) 

1,143 
223 

Forest Service Appropriations Budget Line Item/Program 

FY 2017 

Unobligated 

Balance 

Capital Improvement and Maintenance 2,458 

Land Acquisition Land Acquisition – Acquisition Management 779 

 Land Acquisition – Cash Equalization 313 

 Land – Critical Inholdings 481 

 Land Acquisition 15,833 

 Land Acquisition – Rec Access 1,376 

Land Acquisition Total 18,782 

Forestry Legacy Cooperative Forestry – Forest Legacy 6,835 

 Cooperative Forestry – Forest Legacy Program Administration 242 

Forest Legacy Total 7,077 

Other Appropriations Gifts, Donations & Bequest for Forest and Rangeland Research 125 

 Range Betterment Fund 2,002 

 Management of National Forest Lands for Subsistence Uses 126 

Other Appropriations Total 2,253 

Wildland Fire Management Fire Operations – Wildland Fire Preparedness2 54,315 

 Fire Operations – Wildland Fire Suppression Operations 99,104 

 Other Operations – Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund 22 

 Wildland Fire Management – HazFuels – Biomass Grants 1,661 

 Integrated Resource Restoration – Hazardous Fuels 4,764 

 Other Operations – State Fire Assistance 2,658 

 Other Operations – Volunteer Fire Assistance 5 

 Other Wildland Fire Management Programs (Includes Cost Pools 1,967 

Wildland Fire Management Total 164,196 

FLAME FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Account 0 

FLAME Total 0 1Programs that were moved under Wildland Fire Management in FY 2014 but have balances in prior years. 2Preparedness balance includes $50 million for next generation air tanker (P.L. 113-235); as of FY 2017 $15 million was used for fire 

borrowing and is pending repayment. 

 
224 

USDA Working Capital Fund, Departmental Shared Cost Programs 

and Central Cost Distribution Programs 

Background 

This exhibit is included to provide a three-year display of total costs paid by the Forest Service for these centrally 

administered programs. 

Overview 

The Forest Service, as an agency within the Department of Agriculture (USDA), receives centrally managed, 

administrative by the Department. These centrally administered programs are broken into two activities, the 

Working Capital Fund and Greenbook / Shared Cost Programs. It is important to note that cost estimates for actual 

usage programs have changed in the last three fiscal years in response to demand for services on the part of the 

Forest Service. The Forest Service estimates for the activities assessed on a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) basis or 

standard methodology are likely to better reflect Forest Service shares of total costs, but these may vary during 

execution. 

USDA Working Capital Fund 

The Working Capital Fund (WCF) includes financial and administrative services provided with funding under the 

authority of 7 U.S.C. 2235. The WCF is a financing mechanism that currently supports 17 activity centers across 

five Department-level organizations. These centers provide services to all USDA agencies, including the Forest 

Service, and a large number of Federal entities outside USDA. Customers reimburse activity centers for the cost of 

services provided. 

These WCF-supported activities do not receive appropriated funds and are not subsidized from other funding 

sources. All costs are recovered through reimbursements from serviced customers. Pursuant to the terms of the 

general provisions in annual appropriations to USDA, agency administrators must authorize billings to their agency 

for these services. Therefore, the Chief of the Forest Service (or his duly appointed representative) must sign an 

agreement at the beginning of the fiscal year authorizing billing for services provided and supplying the appropriate 

accounting data. 

The Forest Service acts as one of the overseers in the review of cost estimates for the National Finance Center 

(NFC) through its participation in the WCF Executive Committee, a body comprised of representatives from various 

USDA agencies. The Executive Committee is charged with making budget recommendations and advising the 

Department’s Chief Financial Officer as to the financial effectiveness of the WCF. The Forest Service actively 

works with the Department’s Chief Financial Officer to review activities included in the Greenbook / Shared Cost 

Programs and the basis for any costs attributed to the Forest Service. 

Tables on the following pages display Forest Service assessments for USDA WCF services and describe the range 

of WCF services that the USDA provides. 

FY 2017 to FY 2019 Working Capital Fund 

Assessments for the Forest Service 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Core Service 

2017 

Actual 

2018 

Annualized 

CR 

2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Client Technology Services* 14,283 13,553 13,642 

Mail and Reproduction Services 540 469 472 

Material Management Service Center 877 697 812 
225 

Core Service 

2017 

Actual 

2018 

Annualized 

CR 

2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Integrated Procurement Systems 8,423 7,814 7,865 

Creative Media and Broadcast Center 614 644 494 

Enterprise Network Services 6,395 7,308 8,635 

Financial Management Services 54,238 48,745 50,901 

Internal Control Support Services 330 398 398 

Office of the Executive Secretariat 874 787 849 

Total Core Services 86,574 80,415 84,068 

USDA Agency Specific Services 

2017 

Actual 

2018 

Annualized 

CR 

2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Mail and Reproduction Services 540 469 472 

Enterprise Network Services 6,395 7,308 8,635 

Material Management Service Center 877 697 812 

Procurement Operations Division 140 147 125 

Financial Management Services 54,238 48,745 50,901 

Creative Media and Broadcast Center 614 644 494 

Client Technology Services* 14,283 13,553 13,642 

National Finance Center 8,869 9,637 9,781 

National Information Technology Center (NITC)* 21,862 18,469 18,469 

HR Enterprise System Management 805 838 1,215 

Total USDA Agency Specific Services 108,623 100,507 104,546 

*Forest Service contributions to the USDA Working Capital Fund are subject to a legislative cap of $82M. National Information 

Technology Center (NITC) and Client Technology Services are excluded from the FY 2019 legislative cap. 

 
226 

USDA Departmental Shared Cost Programs and Central Cost Distribution Programs

Central Cost Distribution Programs 

USDA agencies pay a share of costs for external programs through shared cost program assessments. The Forest 

Service share is determined in a manner consistent with that for every other agency in the Department. Assessments 

are broken down into two categories: 

Actual Usage - Costs are collected for programs such as GSA space, transit subsidies, postage, and unemployment 

and workers compensation insurance based on actual costs incurred by individual agencies. 

Outside Assessments - Costs such as Office of Personnel Management Federal employment, FirstGov, and GSA 

blue pages are distributed to executive departments for reimbursement. The Department has no discretion as to the 

cost of the program. 

Departmental Shared Cost Programs 

These costs provide funding for department-wide initiatives authorized by the Office of the Secretary. Costs for 

these programs cannot be recovered on a usage basis and are generally distributed using an FTE methodology. 

FY 2017 to FY 2019 Department Shared Services & Central Cost 

Distribution Assessments for the Forest Service

(Dollars in thousands) 

Central Cost Distribution Programs

2017 

Actual 

2018 

Annualized 

CR 

2019 

President’s 

Budget 

GSA Space – NCRCDC $4,975 $4,975 $4,975 

DHS GSA Building Security – NCRCDC 148 148 148 

U.S. Postal Service Mail - Agency specific 90 90 90 

Unemployment Compensation 38,496 38,496 38,496 

Workers Compensation 28,990 28,990 28,990 

National Archives Records System 450 450 450 

Ethics E-Filing 59 59 59 

Flexible Spending Accounts FSAFEDS - Agency Specific 62 62 62 

FEMA Emergency Preparedness 130 130 130 

Federal Audit Clearing Service 21 21 21 

OPM Federal Employee Service and Admin Law Judges 185 185 185 

Transit Subsidy 1,425 1,425 1,425 

Government-wide Council Activities 60 60 60 

GSA HSPD12 LincPass Maintenance 1,390 1,390 1,390 

E-GOV Initiatives 1,669 1,669 1,669 

OPM Credit Monitoring Services 8 8 8 

Federal Government Priority Goals Program 28 28 28 

eOPF Data Breach Credit Monitoring 207 207 207 

Department of State Passports 31 31 31 

Total Central Cost Programs 78,424 78,424 78,424 

 
227 

Departmental Shared Cost Programs FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized 

CR 

FY 2019 

President’s 

Budget 

Intertribal Technical Assistance Network 926 885 885 

Faith-Based Initiatives & Neighborhood Partnerships 124 115 115 

Advisory Committee Liaison Service 206 220 220 

Hispanic Serving Institutions National Program (Formerly 

HACU) 

602 568 568 

1890 USDA Initiative 1,141 1,078 1,078 

USDA 1994 Program (Formerly AIHEC) 246 224 224 

USDA Human Resources Transformation 514 504 504 

Virtual University 620 570 570 

Peoples Garden & Visitors Center 198 188 188 

Honor Awards 0 22 22 

TARGET Center 451 415 415 

Emergency Operations Center 722 672 672 

Classified National Security Information 225 216 216 

Medical Services 39 47 47 

Continuity of Operations Planning 628 607 607 

Personnel Security Branch 309 276 276 

Facility Infrastructure Review & Assessment 140 129 129 

Retirement Processor Web Application 180 172 172 

Preauthorized Funding 1,034 1,063 1,063 

Identity and Access Management (HSPD-12) 2,069 1,933 1,933 

Total Departmental Shared Cost Programs 10,374 9,904 9,904 

The Fiscal Year 2019 Forest Service legislative cap for the Departmental Shared Cost Program activities is $14.5 million. 

 
228 

Forest Service - Working Capital Fund 

Overview 

The Forest Service Working Capital Fund (WCF) provides orderly and efficient supply and equipment service in 

support of Forest Service programs. The Department of Agriculture Organic Act of August 3, 1956, as amended by 

the Act of October 23, 1962 (15 U.S.C. 579b), established the WCF. The WCF is a self-sustaining revolving fund 

that provides services to national forests, research stations, other Federal agencies, and as provided by law, to State 

and private cooperators. 

The WCF requires no appropriation. Initially, regular Forest Service appropriations purchased assets and donated 

the assets to WCF. The WCF rates are determined so that WCF recovers operating and replacement costs. The WCF 

provides the following services: 

Equipment Leasing Services, which owns and rents vehicles and aircraft, and Enterprise Services, which are 

reinvention teams accomplishing project work that improves customer service and reduces costs. 

The table below displays the volume of business for major WCF activities: 

Volume of Business for Major WCF Activities 

(Dollars in thousands) 

Type FY 2019 

 

FY 2017 

Actual 

FY 2018 

Annualized CR 

President’s 

Budget 

Equipment - Fleet $194,009 $191,541 $181,827 

Equipment - Aircraft 14,642 15,146 17,654 

Nursery 11,889 12,483 13,108 

Enterprise Services 44,603 46,387 48,243 

Total 265,143 265,557 260,832 

FY 2018 Annualized CR and FY 2019 President’s Budget estimates were calculated using approved five-year Cash Flow 

statements. Each year the five-year estimates can change based on specific needs at the time.