National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017

To establish a vegetation management pilot program on National Forest System land to better protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfire, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017 2. Utility infrastructure rights-of-way vegetation management pilot program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) National Forest System land (A) In general The term National Forest System land 16 U.S.C. 1609(a) (B) Exclusions The term National Forest System land (i) a National Grassland; or (ii) a land utilization project on land designated as a National Grassland and administered pursuant to sections 31, 32, and 33 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1010 (2) Passing wildfire The term passing wildfire (3) Pilot program The term pilot program (4) Right-of-way The term right-of-way (5) Secretary The term Secretary (6) Utility infrastructure The term utility infrastructure (b) Establishment To encourage owners or operators of rights-of-way on National Forest System land to partner with the Forest Service to voluntarily conduct vegetation management projects on a proactive basis to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires, the Secretary shall establish a limited, voluntary pilot program, in the manner described in this section, to conduct vegetation management projects on National Forest System land adjacent to or near those rights-of-way. (c) Eligible participants (1) In general A participant in the pilot program shall be the owner or operator of a right-of-way on National Forest System land. (2) Selection priority In selecting participants for the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to an owner or operator of a right-of-way that has worked with Forest Service fire scientists and used technologies, such as light detection and ranging surveys, to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions. (d) Vegetation management projects (1) In general A vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program shall involve only limited and selective vegetation management activities that— (A) shall create the least disturbance reasonably necessary to protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfires based on applicable models, including Forest Service fuel models; (B) may include thinning, fuel reduction, creation and treatment of shaded fuel breaks, and other appropriate measures; (C) shall only be conducted on National Forest System land— (i) adjacent to the right-of-way of a participant; or (ii) within 75 feet of the right-of-way of a participant; and (D) shall not be conducted on— (i) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; (ii) a designated wilderness study area; or (iii) an inventoried roadless area. (2) Approval Each vegetation management project described in paragraph (1) (including each vegetation management activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of that paragraph) shall be subject to approval by the Forest Service in accordance with this section. (e) Project costs (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), a participant in the pilot program shall be responsible for all costs, as determined by the Secretary, incurred in participating in the pilot program. (2) Federal funding The Secretary may contribute funds for a vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program if the Secretary determines that the contribution is in the public interest. (f) Liability (1) In general Participation in the pilot program shall not affect any legal obligations or liability standards that— (A) arise under the right-of-way for activities in the right-of-way; or (B) apply to fires resulting from causes other than activities conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program. (2) Project work A participant in the pilot program shall not be liable to the United States for damage proximately caused by an activity conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program, unless— (A) the activity was carried out in a manner that was grossly negligent or that violated criminal law; or (B) the damage was caused by the failure of the participant to comply with specific safety requirements expressly imposed by the Forest Service as a condition of participation in the pilot program. (g) Implementation (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall use the authority of the Secretary under other laws (including regulations) to carry out the pilot program. (2) Modification of regulations In order to implement the pilot program in an efficient and expeditious manner, the Secretary may waive or modify specific provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, including waivers or modifications to allow for the formation of contracts or agreements on a noncompetitive basis. (h) Treatment of proceeds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may— (1) retain any funds provided to the Forest Service by a participant in the pilot program; and (2) use funds retained under paragraph (1), in such amounts as may be appropriated, to carry out the pilot program. (i) Report to Congress Not later than December 31, 2019, and every 2 years thereafter through December 31, 2027, the Secretary shall submit a report describing the status of the pilot program and vegetation management projects conducted under the pilot program to— (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; (2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; (3) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (4) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives. (j) Duration The authority to carry out the pilot program, including any vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program, expires on December 31, 2027.

Summary: National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a limited, voluntary pilot program under which owners and operators of rights-of-way on National Forest System (NFS) land may conduct vegetation management projects on NFS land adjacent to or near those rights-of-way to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires. USDA shall give priority to an owner or operator of a right-of-way that has worked with Forest Service fire scientists and used technologies to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions. Vegetation management projects shall involve only limited and selective vegetation management activities that: create the least amount of disturbance necessary to protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfires; may include thinning, fuel reduction, creation, and treatment of shaded fuel breaks; are conducted only on NFS land adjacent to the participant's right-of-way or within 75 feet of it; and are not conducted on a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, a designated wilderness area, or an inventoried roadless area. Each vegetation management project, including each of those activities selected, shall be subject to approval by the Forest Service.