119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 471
AN ACT 
To expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 and improve forest management activities on 
National Forest System lands, on public lands under 
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, 
and on Tribal lands to return resilience to overgrown, 
fire-prone forested lands, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Fix Our Forests Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—LANDSCAPE-SCALE RESTORATION 
Subtitle A—Addressing Emergency Wildfire Risks in High Priority Firesheds 
Sec. 101. Designation of fireshed management areas. 
Sec. 102. Fireshed center. 
Sec. 103. Fireshed registry. 
Sec. 104. Shared stewardship. 
Sec. 105. Fireshed assessments. 
Sec. 106. Emergency fireshed management. 
Sec. 107. Sunset. 
Subtitle B—Expanding Collaborative Tools to Reduce Wildfire Risk and 
Improve Forest Health 
Sec. 111. Modification of the treatment of certain revenue and payments under 
good neighbor agreements. 
Sec. 112. Fixing stewardship end result contracting. 
Sec. 113. Intra-agency strike teams. 
Sec. 114. Locally-led restoration. 
Sec. 115. Joint Chiefs landscape restoration partnership program. 
Sec. 116. Collaborative forest landscape restoration program. 
Sec. 117. Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction. 
Sec. 118. Water source protection program. 
Sec. 119. Watershed condition framework technical corrections. 
Subtitle C—Litigation Reform 
Sec. 121. Commonsense litigation reform. 
Sec. 122. Consultation on forest plans. 
TITLE II—PROTECTING COMMUNITIES IN THE WILDLAND-URBAN 
INTERFACE 
Sec. 201. Community wildfire risk reduction program. 
Sec. 202. Community wildfire defense research program. 
Sec. 203. Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and main-
tenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facil-
ity rights-of-way. 
Sec. 204. Categorical exclusion for electric utility lines rights-of-way. 
Sec. 205. Seeds of success. 
Sec. 206. Program to support priority reforestation and restoration projects of 
Department of the Interior. 
Sec. 207. Fire department repayment.
TITLE III—TRANSPARENCY, TECHNOLOGY, AND PARTNERSHIPS 
Subtitle A—Transparency and Technology 
Sec. 301. Biochar innovations and opportunities for conservation, health, and 
advancements in research. 
Sec. 302. Accurate hazardous fuels reduction reports. 
Sec. 303. Public-private wildfire technology deployment and demonstration 
partnership. 
Sec. 304. GAO study on Forest Service policies. 
Sec. 305. Forest Service Western headquarters study. 
Sec. 306. Keeping forest plans current and monitored. 
Sec. 307. Container Aerial Firefighting System (CAFFS). 
Sec. 308. Study on pine beetle infestation. 
Sec. 309. Fire safe electrical corridors. 
Subtitle B—White Oak Resilience 
Sec. 311. White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition. 
Sec. 312. Forest Service pilot program. 
Sec. 313. Department of the Interior white oak review and restoration. 
Sec. 314. White oak regeneration and upland oak habitat. 
Sec. 315. Tree nursery shortages. 
Sec. 316. White oak research. 
Sec. 317. USDA formal initiative. 
Sec. 318. Authorities. 
TITLE IV—ENSURING CASUALTY ASSISTANCE FOR OUR 
FIREFIGHTERS 
Sec. 401. Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Fireshed Center appointed under 
section 102. 
(2) FIRESHED.—The term ‘‘fireshed’’ means a 
landscape-scale area that faces similar wildfire 
threat where a response strategy could influence the 
wildfire outcome.
(3) FIRESHED
MANAGEMENT
PROJECT.—The 
term ‘‘fireshed management project’’ means a 
project under section 106. 
(4) FIRESHED REGISTRY.—The term ‘‘Fireshed 
Registry’’ means the fireshed registry established 
under section 103. 
(5) FOREST
PLAN.—The term ‘‘forest plan’’ 
means—
(A) a land use plan prepared by the Bu-
reau of Land Management for public lands pur-
suant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1712); 
(B) a land and resource management plan 
prepared by the Forest Service for a unit of the 
National Forest System pursuant to section 6 
of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-
sources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
1604); or 
(C) a forest management plan (as defined 
in section 304 of the National Indian Forests 
Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3104)) 
with respect to Indian forest land or rangeland. 
(6) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor or any other appropriate executive offi-
cial of an affected State or Indian Tribe or the Com-
monwealth of Puerto Rico. 
(7) HAZARDOUS FUELS MANAGEMENT ACTIVI-
TIES.—The term ‘‘hazardous fuels management ac-
tivities’’ means any vegetation management activities 
(or combination thereof) that reduce the risk of 
wildfire, including mechanical thinning, mastication, 
prescribed burning, cultural burning (as determined 
by the applicable Indian Tribe), timber harvest, and 
grazing. 
(8) HFRA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘at-risk com-
munity’’, ‘‘community wildfire protection plan’’, and 
‘‘wildland-urban interface’’ have the meanings given 
such terms, respectively, in section 101 of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6511). 
(9) INDIAN FOREST LAND OR RANGELAND.—
The term ‘‘Indian forest land or rangeland’’ means 
land that—
(A) is held in trust by, or with a restriction 
against alienation by, the United States for an 
Indian Tribe or a member of an Indian Tribe; 
and 
(B)(i)(I) is Indian forest land (as defined 
in section 304 of the National Indian Forest
Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103)); 
or 
(II) has a cover of grasses, 
brush, or any similar vegetation; or 
(ii) formerly had a forest cover or veg-
etative cover that is capable of restoration. 
(10) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(11) NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.—The 
term ‘‘National Forest System lands’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest 
and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act 
of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609). 
(12) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘‘public lands’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 103 of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702), except that the term in-
cludes Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands and Or-
egon and California Railroad Grant lands. 
(13) 
RELEVANT
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘relevant Congressional Commit-
tees’’ means—
(A) the Committees on Natural Resources 
and Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
(B) the Committees on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources and Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate. 
(14) RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL.—The term ‘‘re-
sponsible official’’ means an employee of the Depart-
ment of the Interior or Forest Service who has the 
authority to make and implement a decision on a 
proposed action. 
(15) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ 
means each of—
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; and 
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(16) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(17) 
SECRETARY
CONCERNED.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary concerned’’ means—
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System lands; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to public lands.
(18) SPECIAL
DISTRICT.—The term ‘‘special 
district’’ means a political subdivision of a State 
that—
(A) has significant budgetary autonomy or 
control; 
(B) was created by or pursuant to the laws 
of the State for the purpose of performing a 
limited and specific governmental or proprietary 
function; and 
(C) is distinct from any other local govern-
ment unit within the State. 
(19) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, and 
each territory of the United States. 
TITLE I—LANDSCAPE-SCALE 
RESTORATION 
Subtitle A—Addressing Emergency 
Wildfire Risks in High Priority 
Firesheds 
SEC. 
101. 
DESIGNATION 
OF 
FIRESHED 
MANAGEMENT 
AREAS. 
(a) DESIGNATION
OF
FIRESHED
MANAGEMENT 
AREAS.—
(1) INITIAL DESIGNATIONS.—For the period be-
ginning on the date of enactment of this Act and
ending on the date that is 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, there are designated fireshed 
management areas, which—
(A) shall be comprised of individual land-
scape-scale firesheds identified as being a high 
risk fireshed in the ‘‘Wildfire Crisis Strategy’’ 
published by the Forest Service in January 
2022; 
(B) shall be comprised of individual land-
scape-scale firesheds identified by the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, as being in the top 20 percent of the 7,688 
firesheds published by the Rocky Mountain Re-
search Station of the Forest Service in 2019 for 
wildfire exposure based on the following cri-
teria—
(i) 
wildfire 
exposure 
and 
cor-
responding risk to communities, including 
risk to life and structures; 
(ii) 
wildfire 
exposure 
and 
cor-
responding risk to municipal watersheds, 
including tribal water supplies and sys-
tems; and 
(iii) risk of forest conversion due to 
wildfire;
(C) shall not overlap with any other 
fireshed management areas; 
(D) may contain Federal and non-Federal 
land, including Indian forest lands or range-
lands; and 
(E) where the Secretary concerned shall 
carry out fireshed management projects. 
(2) FURTHER
FIRESHED
MANAGEMENT
AREA 
DESIGNATIONS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—On the date that is 5 
years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, shall submit to the relevant Congressional 
Committees an updated map of firesheds based 
on the Fireshed Registry maintained under sec-
tion 103. 
(B) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 60 
days after submitting an updated fireshed map 
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, 
based on such map, designate additional 
fireshed management areas that are identified 
as being in the top 20 percent of firesheds at 
risk of wildfire exposure based on the criteria
specified in subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and 
(E) of paragraph (1). 
(b) APPLICABILITY OF NEPA.—The designation of 
fireshed management areas under this section shall not 
be subject to the requirements of the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
SEC. 102. FIRESHED CENTER. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Direc-
tor of the U.S. Geological Survey, shall jointly estab-
lish an interagency center, to be known as the 
Fireshed Center (hereinafter referred to as the 
‘‘Center’’) to carry out the purposes in subsection 
(b). 
(2) COMPOSITION.—
(A) DIVISIONS.—The Center shall be com-
prised of the following divisions: 
(i) Technology and Engineering. 
(ii) Data Services. 
(iii) Analysis and Prediction. 
(iv) Education and Consultation.
(B) REPRESENTATIVES.—The Center shall 
be comprised of at least one career representa-
tive from each of the following: 
(i) The Forest Service. 
(ii) The Bureau of Land Manage-
ment. 
(iii) The National Park Service. 
(iv) The Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
(v) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice. 
(vi) The U.S. Geological Survey. 
(vii) The Department of Defense. 
(viii) The Department of Homeland 
Security. 
(ix) The Department of Energy. 
(x) The Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency. 
(xi) The National Science Foundation. 
(xii) The National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration. 
(xiii) The National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration. 
(xiv) The National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology.
(xv) The United States Fire Adminis-
tration. 
(C) APPOINTMENTS.—Each representative 
of a Department, Agency, or other entity speci-
fied in subparagraph (B) shall be appointed by 
the head of that Department, Agency, or other 
entity, as applicable. 
(3) DIRECTOR.—The representatives appointed 
under paragraph (2) shall, by majority vote, appoint 
a Director of the Center, who—
(A) shall be an employee of the U.S. Geo-
logical Survey or the Forest Service; 
(B) shall serve an initial term of not more 
than 7 years; 
(C) may serve one additional term of not 
more than 7 years after the initial term de-
scribed in subparagraph (B); and 
(D) shall be responsible for the manage-
ment and operation of the Center. 
(4) ASSOCIATE
DIRECTORS.—In consultation 
with the representatives appointed under paragraph 
(2), the Director may appoint such Associate Direc-
tors as the Director determines necessary. 
(5) ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATION.—The Sec-
retary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Serv-
ice, and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through 
the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, may 
jointly appoint additional representatives of Federal 
agencies, States, Indian Tribes, or local governments 
to the Center, as the Secretaries determine nec-
essary. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Center are to—
(1) comprehensively assess and predict, using 
data tools (including artificial intelligence) and other 
decision support products, fire and smoke in the 
wildland and built environment interface across ju-
risdictions to inform—
(A) land and fuels management; 
(B) community (including at-risk commu-
nities identified in fireshed assessments con-
ducted under section 105) and built environ-
ment risk reduction, including the support and 
development of community wildfire protection 
plans and evacuation decisions; and 
(C) public health risk reduction related to 
wildland fire and smoke, including air quality 
monitoring and forecasting and smoke pre-
diction models; 
(D) fire response and management, includ-
ing the pre-positioning of wildfire suppression
personnel and assets based on real-time risk; 
and 
(E) post-fire recovery activities, including 
activities related to vegetation recovery, debris 
flows and flooding, watershed recovery and pro-
tection, and ecosystem health; 
(2) provide data aggregation, real-time land 
and fuels management services, and science-based 
decision support services to inform the purposes 
specified in subparagraph (A) through (E) of para-
graph (1); 
(3) reduce fragmentation and duplication across 
Federal land management agencies with respect to 
predictive service and decision support functions re-
lated to wildland fire and smoke, including through 
the provision of data aggregation described in para-
graph (2); 
(4) promote coordination and sharing of data 
regarding wildland fire and smoke decision making 
(including through the provision of data aggregation 
described in paragraph (2)) to each of the entities 
specified in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of para-
graph (8); 
(5) streamline procurement processes for tech-
nologies (including technologies identified under the
pilot program established under section 303) and 
cybersecurity systems related to addressing wildland 
fire and smoke for the purposes of scaling such tech-
nologies and systems across Federal agencies; 
(6) amplify and distribute existing, and develop 
as necessary, publicly accessible data, models, tech-
nologies (including mapping technologies), assess-
ments, and National Weather Service fire weather 
forecasts to support short- and long-term planning 
regarding wildland fire and smoke risk reduction 
and post-fire recovery while avoiding duplicative ef-
forts, as determined by the Director; 
(7) maintain the Fireshed Registry established 
under section 103; and 
(8) disseminate data tools (including artificial 
intelligence) and other decision support products, for 
use in manners consistent with the purposes de-
scribed paragraphs (1) through (7), to the following: 
(A) Federal agencies. 
(B) Indian Tribes. 
(C) State and local governments. 
(D) Academic or research institutions. 
(E) Wildland firefighting entities, includ-
ing applicable incident management teams and 
geographic coordination centers.
(F) Other entities, including public, pri-
vate, and nonprofit entities, with expertise in 
land management, air quality, water manage-
ment, or public health, as determined appro-
priate by the Director. 
(c) MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—The Center 
may enter into memoranda of understanding, contracts, 
or other agreements with State governments, Indian 
Tribes, local governments, academic or research institu-
tions, and private entities to improve the information and 
operations of the Center. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, TECHNICAL SERV-
ICES, AND STAFF SUPPORT.—
(1) USGS SUPPORT.—The Secretary of the In-
terior shall make personnel of the U.S. Geological 
Survey available to the Center for such administra-
tive support, technical services, and development and 
dissemination of data as the Secretary determines 
necessary to carry out this section. 
(2) USFS 
SUPPORT.—The Secretary shall 
make personnel of the Forest Service available to 
the Center for such administrative support, technical 
services, and the development and dissemination of 
information related to fireshed management and the
Fireshed Registry as the Secretary determines nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
(3) FUNDING.—Notwithstanding section 708 of 
title VII of division E of the Consolidated Appro-
priations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–328), the Sec-
retary of the Interior and Secretary may enter into 
agreements to share the management and oper-
ational costs of the Center. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to affect the ownership of any data 
sources. 
SEC. 103. FIRESHED REGISTRY. 
(a) FIRESHED REGISTRY.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the Fireshed Center appointed 
under section 102, shall maintain a Fireshed Registry on 
a publicly accessible website that provides interactive 
geospatial data on individual firesheds, including informa-
tion on—
(1) wildfire exposure delineated by ownership, 
including rights-of-way for utilities and other public 
or private purposes; 
(2) any hazardous fuels management activities 
that have occurred within an individual fireshed in 
the past 10 years;
(3) wildfire exposure with respect to such 
fireshed delineated by—
(A) wildfire exposure and corresponding 
risk to communities, including risk to life and 
structures; 
(B) wildfire exposure and corresponding 
risk to municipal watersheds, including tribal 
water supplies and systems; and 
(C) risk of forest conversion due to wild-
fire; 
(4) the percentage of the fireshed that has 
burned in wildfires in the past 10 years, including, 
to the extent practicable, delineations of acres that 
have burned at a high severity; 
(5) spatial patterns of wildfire exposure, includ-
ing plausible extreme fire events; and 
(6) any hazardous fuels management activities 
planned for the fireshed, including fireshed manage-
ment projects. 
(b) COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLANS.—
The Director shall make data from the Fireshed Registry 
available to local communities developing or updating com-
munity wildfire protection plans.
(c) REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN.—As part of the 
website containing the Fireshed Registry, the Director 
shall—
(1) publish fireshed assessments created under 
section 105; and 
(2) maintain a searchable database to track—
(A) the status of Federal environmental re-
views, permits, and authorizations for fireshed 
management projects, including—
(i) a comprehensive permitting time-
table; 
(ii) the status of the compliance of 
each lead agency, cooperating agency, and 
participating agency with the permitting 
timetable with respect to such fireshed 
management projects; 
(iii) any modifications of the permit-
ting timetable required under clause (i), in-
cluding an explanation as to why the per-
mitting timetable was modified; and 
(iv) information about project-related 
public meetings, public hearings, and pub-
lic comment periods, which shall be pre-
sented in English and the predominant 
language of the community or communities
most affected by the project, as that infor-
mation becomes available; 
(B) the projected cost of such fireshed 
management projects; and 
(C) in the case of completed fireshed man-
agement projects, the effectiveness of such 
projects in reducing the wildfire exposure within 
an applicable fireshed, including wildfire expo-
sure described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(C) of subsection (a)(3). 
(d) RELIANCE ON EXISTING ASSESSMENTS.—In car-
rying out this section, the Director may rely on assess-
ments completed or data gather through existing partner-
ships, to the extent practicable. 
SEC. 104. SHARED STEWARDSHIP. 
(a) JOINT AGREEMENTS.—Not later than 90 days 
after receiving a written request from a Governor of a 
State or an Indian Tribe, the Secretary concerned shall 
enter into a shared stewardship agreement (or similar 
agreement) with such Governor or Indian Tribe to joint-
ly—
(1) promote the reduction of wildfire exposure, 
based on the criteria in section 101(a)(1)(B), in 
fireshed management areas across jurisdictional 
boundaries; and
(2) conduct fireshed assessments under section 
105. 
(b) ADDITIONAL FIRESHED MANAGEMENT AREAS.—
With respect to a shared stewardship agreement (or simi-
lar agreement) with a Governor of a State or an Indian 
Tribe entered into under subsection (a), the Secretary con-
cerned, if requested by such Governor or Indian Tribe, 
may—
(1) designate additional fireshed management 
areas under such agreement; and 
(2) update such agreement to address new wild-
fire threats. 
SEC. 105. FIRESHED ASSESSMENTS. 
(a) FIRESHED ASSESSMENTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date on which the Secretary concerned enters 
into an agreement with a Governor of a State or an 
Indian Tribe under section 104, the Secretary con-
cerned and such Governor or Indian Tribe shall, 
with respect to the fireshed management areas des-
ignated in such State, jointly conduct a fireshed as-
sessment that—
(A) identifies—
(i) using the best available science, 
wildfire exposure risks within each such
fireshed management area, including sce-
nario planning and wildfire hazard map-
ping and models; and 
(ii) each at-risk community within 
each fireshed management area; 
(B) identifies potential fireshed manage-
ment projects to be carried out in such fireshed 
management areas, giving priority—
(i) primarily, to projects with the pur-
pose of reducing—
(I) wildfire exposure and cor-
responding risk to communities, in-
cluding risk to life and structures; 
(II) wildfire exposure and cor-
responding risk to municipal water-
sheds, including tribal water supplies 
and systems; 
(III) risk of forest conversion due 
to wildfire; or 
(IV) any combination of purposes 
described in subclauses (I) through 
(III); and 
(ii) secondarily, to projects with the 
purpose of protecting—
(I) critical infrastructure, includ-
ing utility infrastructure; 
(II) wildlife habitats, including 
habitat for species listed under the 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.); 
(III) the built environment, in-
cluding residential and commercial 
buildings; 
(IV) resources of an Indian 
Tribe, as defined by the Indian Tribe; 
or 
(V) any combination of purposes 
described in subclauses (I) through 
(IV); 
(C) includes—
(i) a strategy for reducing the threat 
of wildfire to at-risk communities in the 
wildland-urban interface on both Federal 
and non-Federal land; 
(ii) a timeline for the implementation 
of fireshed management projects; 
(iii) long-term benchmark goals for 
the completion of fireshed management 
projects in the highest wildfire exposure
areas so that such projects contribute to 
the development and maintenance of 
healthy and resilient landscapes; 
(iv) policies to ensure fireshed man-
agement projects comply with applicable 
forest plans and incorporate the best avail-
able science; and 
(v) a strategy for reducing the threat 
of wildfire to improve the effectiveness of 
wildland firefighting, particularly the effec-
tiveness of fuels treatments that would im-
prove wildland firefighter safety during 
wildfires; 
(D) shall be regularly updated based on 
the best available science, as determined by the 
Secretary concerned; and 
(E) shall be publicly available on a website 
maintained by the Secretary concerned. 
(2) LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
PARTICIPATION.—
Upon the written request of a local government, the 
Secretary concerned and the Governor of the State 
in which the local government is located may allow 
such local government to participate in producing 
the fireshed assessment under paragraph (1) for 
such State.
(3) INFORMATION IMPROVEMENT.—
(A) MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—
In carrying out a fireshed assessment under 
this subsection, the Secretary concerned may 
enter into memoranda of understanding with 
other Federal agencies or departments (includ-
ing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration), States, Indian Tribes, private en-
tities, or research or educational institutions to 
improve, with respect to such assessment, the 
use and integration of—
(i) advanced remote sensing and 
geospatial technologies; 
(ii) statistical modeling and analysis; 
or 
(iii) any other technology or combina-
tion of technologies and analyses that the 
Secretary concerned determines will benefit 
the quality of information of such an as-
sessment. 
(B) BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE.—In using 
the best available science for the fireshed as-
sessments completed under subsection (a)(1), 
the Secretary concerned and Governor shall, to 
the maximum extent practicable, incorporate—
(i) traditional ecological knowledge 
from Indian Tribes; 
(ii) data from State forest action 
plans and State wildfire risk assessments; 
(iii) data from the Fireshed Registry 
maintained under section 103; and 
(iv) data from other Federal, State, 
Tribal, and local governments or agencies. 
(b) APPLICABILITY
OF NEPA.—Fireshed assess-
ments conducted under this section shall not be subject 
to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
SEC. 106. EMERGENCY FIRESHED MANAGEMENT. 
(a) FIRESHED MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned, 
acting through a responsible official, shall carry out 
fireshed management projects in fireshed manage-
ment areas designated under section 101 in accord-
ance with this section. 
(2) FIRESHED MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.—The 
responsible official shall carry out the following for-
est and vegetation management activities as fireshed 
management projects under this section: 
(A) Conducting hazardous fuels manage-
ment activities.
(B) Creating fuel breaks and fire breaks. 
(C) Removing hazard trees, dead trees, 
dying trees, or trees at risk of dying, as deter-
mined by the responsible official. 
(D) Developing, approving, or conducting 
routine maintenance under a vegetation man-
agement, facility inspection, and operation and 
maintenance plan submitted under section 
512(c)(1) of the Federal Land Policy and Man-
agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(1)). 
(E) Removing trees to address over-
stocking or crowding in a forest stand, con-
sistent with the appropriate basal area of the 
forest stand as determined by the responsible 
official. 
(F) Using chemical or re-seeding and 
planting treatments to address insects and dis-
ease and control vegetation competition or 
invasive species. 
(G) Any activities recommended by an ap-
plicable fireshed assessment carried out under 
section 105. 
(H) Any activities recommended by an ap-
plicable community wildfire protection plan.
(I) Any combination of activities described 
in this paragraph. 
(3) EMERGENCY FIRESHED MANAGEMENT.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—For any fireshed man-
agement area designated under section 101, the 
following shall have the force and effect of law: 
(i) Section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code 
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of enactment of this Act), with re-
spect to lands under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary. 
(ii) Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of enactment of this Act), with re-
spect to lands under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary of the Interior. 
(iii) Section 402.05 of title 50, Code 
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of enactment of this Act). 
(iv) Section 800.12 of title 36, Code 
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of enactment of this Act). 
(B) UTILIZATION
OF
EXISTING
STREAM-
LINED
AUTHORITIES
IN
FIRESHED
MANAGE-
MENT AREAS.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Fireshed manage-
ment projects carried out under this sec-
tion shall be considered authorized projects 
under the following categorical exclusions: 
(I) Section 603(a) of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 
U.S.C. 6591b(a)). 
(II) 
Section 
605(a) 
of 
the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591d(a)). 
(III) 
Section 
606(b) 
of 
the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591e(b)). 
(IV) Section 40806(b) of the In-
frastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
(16 U.S.C. 6592b(b)). 
(V) Section 4(c)(4) of the Lake 
Tahoe Restoration Act (Public Law 
106–506; 114 Stat. 2353). 
(ii) ADDITIONAL
EMERGENCY
AC-
TIONS.—Subsection (d) of section 40807 of 
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c) shall apply to 
fireshed management projects under this 
section in the same manner as such sub-
section applies to authorized emergency ac-
tions (as defined in subsection (a) of such 
section 40807) under such section 40807. 
(iii) USE
OF
EXPEDITED
AUTHORI-
TIES.—In carrying out a fireshed manage-
ment project, the Secretary shall apply a 
categorical exclusion under clause (i)—
(I) in a manner consistent with 
the statute establishing such categor-
ical exclusion; and 
(II) in any area—
(aa) designated as suitable 
for timber production within the 
applicable forest plan; or 
(bb) where timber harvest 
activities are not prohibited. 
(iv) FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT RE-
QUIREMENTS.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the Secretary concerned shall ensure 
compliance with the amendments made to 
the National Environmental Policy Act (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) by the Fiscal Respon-
sibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118–5). 
(v) USE OF OTHER AUTHORITIES.—
To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary concerned shall use the authori-
ties provided under this section in com-
bination with other authorities to carry out 
fireshed management projects, including—
(I) good neighbor agreements en-
tered into under section 8206 of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 
2113a) (as amended by this Act); 
(II) 
stewardship 
contracting 
projects entered into under section 
604 of the Healthy Forests Restora-
tion Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) 
(as amended by this Act); 
(III) self-determination contracts 
and self-governance compact agree-
ments entered into under the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education As-
sistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); 
and 
(IV) agreements entered into 
under the Tribal Forest Protection 
Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a et 
seq.). 
(b) EXPANSION.—
(1) HFRA AMENDMENTS.—The Healthy For-
ests Restoration Act of 2003 is amended—
(A) in section 3 (16 U.S.C. 6502), by in-
serting at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘local 
government’ means a county, municipality, or special 
district. 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL DISTRICT.—The term ‘special dis-
trict’ means a political subdivision of a State that—
‘‘(A) has significant budgetary autonomy 
or control; 
‘‘(B) was created by or pursuant to the 
laws of the State for the purpose of performing 
a limited and specific governmental or propri-
etary function; and 
‘‘(C) is distinct from any other local gov-
ernment unit within the State.’’. 
(B) in section 603(c)(1) (16 U.S.C. 
6591b(c)(1)), by striking ‘‘3000 acres’’ and in-
serting ‘‘10,000 acres’’; 
(C) in section 603(c)(2)(B) (16 U.S.C. 
6591b(c)(2)(B)), by striking ‘‘Fire Regime 
Groups I, II, or III’’ and inserting ‘‘Fire Re-
gime I, Fire Regime II, Fire Regime III, Fire 
Regime IV, or Fire Regime V’’;
(D) in section 605(c)(1) (16 U.S.C. 
6591d(c)(1)), by striking ‘‘3000 acres’’ and in-
serting ‘‘10,000 acres’’; and 
(E) 
in 
section 
606(g) 
(16 
U.S.C. 
6591e(g)), by striking ‘‘4,500 acres’’ and in-
serting ‘‘10,000 acres’’. 
(2) INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS 
ACT AMENDMENT.—Section 40806(d)(1) of the In-
frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 
6592b(d)(1)), by striking ‘‘3,000 acres’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘10,000 acres’’. 
(3) LAKE TAHOE RESTORATION ACT AMEND-
MENTS.—Section 4(c)(4)(C) of the Lake Tahoe Res-
toration Act (Public Law 106–506; 114 Stat. 2353) 
is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘Lake Tahoe Basin Man-
agement Unit’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘applicable to the area’’ 
before the period at the end. 
SEC. 107. SUNSET. 
The authority under this subtitle shall terminate on 
the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
Subtitle 
B—Expanding 
Collabo-
rative Tools to Reduce Wildfire 
Risk and Improve Forest Health 
SEC. 111. MODIFICATION OF THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN 
REVENUE 
AND 
PAYMENTS 
UNDER 
GOOD 
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS. 
(a) GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.—Section 8206 of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is amend-
ed—
(1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ‘‘or Indian 
tribe’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by inserting the following: 
‘‘(11) SPECIAL
DISTRICT.—The term ‘special 
district’ means a political subdivision of a State 
that—
‘‘(A) has significant budgetary autonomy 
or control; 
‘‘(B) was created by or pursuant to the 
laws of the State for the purpose of performing 
a limited and specific governmental or propri-
etary function; and 
‘‘(C) is distinct from any other local gov-
ernment unit within the State.’’. 
(3) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘, 
Indian Tribe, special district,’’ after ‘‘Gov-
ernor’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(C)—
(i) in clause (i)—
(I) by inserting ‘‘special district,’’ 
after ‘‘Indian Tribe,’’ each place it ap-
pears; 
(II) in subclause (I)—
(aa) by striking ‘‘on’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(III) in subclause (II)(bb), by 
striking the period at the end and in-
serting a semicolon; and 
(IV) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(III) to construct new perma-
nent roads on Federal lands that 
are—
‘‘(aa) necessary to imple-
ment authorized restoration ac-
tivities; and 
‘‘(bb) approved by the Fed-
eral agency through an environ-
mental analysis or categorical ex-
clusion decision; 
‘‘(IV) to complete new permanent 
road construction to replace and de-
commission an existing permanent 
road that is adversely impacting for-
est, rangeland, or watershed health; 
and 
‘‘(V) if there are funds remaining 
after carrying out subclauses (I) 
through (IV), to carry out authorized 
restoration services under other good 
neighbor agreements and for the ad-
ministration of a good neighbor au-
thority program by a Governor, In-
dian tribe, special district, or coun-
ty.’’; and 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘2028’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2030’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, In-
dian Tribe, special district,’’ after ‘‘Governor’’; 
and 
(D) by striking paragraph (4).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 8206(a) 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)) is 
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ‘‘, Indian 
Tribe, special district,’’ after ‘‘Governor’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘, Indian 
Tribe, special district,’’ after ‘‘Governor’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section apply to any project initiated pursuant to a 
good neighbor agreement (as defined in section 8206(a) 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)))—
(1) before the date of enactment of this Act, if 
the project was initiated after the date of enactment 
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public 
Law 115–334; 132 Stat. 4490); or 
(2) on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
SEC. 
112. 
FIXING 
STEWARDSHIP 
END 
RESULT 
CON-
TRACTING. 
Section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act 
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘, including 
retaining and expanding existing forest products in-
frastructure’’ before the period at the end;
(2) in subsection (d)(3)(B), by striking ‘‘10 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘20 years’’; and 
(3) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL RULE FOR LONG-TERM STEWARD-
SHIP CONTRACTS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—A long-term agree-
ment or contract entered into with an entity 
under subsection (b) by the Chief or the Direc-
tor shall provide that in the case of the can-
cellation or termination by the Chief or the Di-
rector of such long-term agreement or contract, 
the Chief or the Director, as applicable, shall 
provide 10 percent of the agreement or contract 
amount to such entity as cancellation or termi-
nation costs. 
‘‘(B) DEFINITION OF LONG-TERM AGREE-
MENT OR CONTRACT.—In this paragraph, the 
term ‘long-term agreement or contract’ means 
an agreement or contract under subsection 
(b)—
‘‘(i) with a term of more than 5 years; 
and 
‘‘(ii) entered into on or after the date 
of the enactment of this paragraph.’’.
SEC. 113. INTRA-AGENCY STRIKE TEAMS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary concerned 
shall establish intra-agency strike teams to assist the Sec-
retary concerned with—
(1) any reviews, including analysis under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), consultations under the Na-
tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 
470 et seq.), and consultations under the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
with the intent to accelerate and streamline inter-
agency consultation processes; 
(2) the implementation of any necessary site 
preparation work in advance of or as part of a 
fireshed management project; 
(3) the implementation of fireshed management 
projects under such section; and 
(4) any combination of purposes under para-
graphs (1) through (3). 
(b) MEMBERS.—The Secretary concerned may ap-
point not more than 10 individuals to serve on an intra-
agency strike team comprised of—
(1) employees of the Department under the ju-
risdiction of the Secretary concerned; 
(2) employees of a different Federal agency, 
with the consent of that agency’s Secretary;
(3) private contractors from any nonprofit orga-
nization, State government, Indian Tribe, local gov-
ernment, quasi-governmental agency, academic insti-
tution, or private organization; and 
(4) volunteers from any nonprofit organization, 
State government, Indian Tribe, local government, 
quasi-governmental agency, academic institution, or 
private organization. 
(c) SUNSET.—The authority provided under this sec-
tion shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 114. LOCALLY-LED RESTORATION. 
(a) THRESHOLD ADJUSTMENT.—Section 14(d) of the 
National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 
472a(d)) is amended by—
(1) 
striking 
‘‘$10,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$55,000’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Begin-
ning on January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, 
the amount in the first sentence of this subsection 
shall be adjusted by the Secretary for changes in the 
Consumer Price Index of All Urban Consumers pub-
lished by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the De-
partment of Labor.’’.
(b) FIRESHED MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.—Begin-
ning on the date that is 30 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit bids under sec-
tion 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 
(16 U.S.C. 472a(d)) for fireshed management projects 
under section 106. 
SEC. 115. JOINT CHIEFS LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PART-
NERSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 40808 of the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592d) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(2)—
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘or’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) to recover from wildfires; or 
‘‘(E) to enhance soil, water, and related 
natural resources.’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(1)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘and post-wildfire impacts’’ after ‘‘wildfire 
risk’’; and
(B) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ‘‘, 
as identified in the corresponding State forest 
action plan or similar priority plan (such as a 
State wildlife or water plan)’’ before the semi-
colon; 
(3) in subsection (g)(2), by inserting ‘‘and at 
least once every 2 fiscal years thereafter’’ after ‘‘and 
2023’’; and 
(4) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ‘‘and 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2030’’. 
SEC. 116. COLLABORATIVE FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORA-
TION PROGRAM. 
Section 4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Manage-
ment Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(3)—
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘spe-
cies;’’ and inserting ‘‘species or pathogens;’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (G), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (H), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon at the end; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(I) address standardized monitoring ques-
tions and indicators;’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(3)(A)—
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (ii), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) include a plan to provide sup-
port to collaborative processes established 
pursuant to subsection (b)(2);’’; 
(3) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (2)—
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) proposals that seek to use innovative 
implementation mechanisms, including good 
neighbor agreements entered into under section 
8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 
U.S.C. 2113a); 
‘‘(H) proposals that seek to remove or 
treat insects or diseases, including the removal 
of trees killed by, or infested with, bark beetles
in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Mon-
tana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, 
South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyo-
ming; 
‘‘(I) proposals that seek to facilitate the 
sale of firewood and Christmas trees on lands 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary or the 
Secretary of the Interior; 
‘‘(J) proposals that seek to reduce the risk 
of uncharacteristic wildfire or increase ecologi-
cal restoration activities—
‘‘(i) within areas across land owner-
ships, including State, Tribal, and private 
land; and 
‘‘(ii) within the wildland-urban inter-
face (as defined in section 101 of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
(16 U.S.C. 6511)); and 
‘‘(K) proposals that seek to enhance water-
shed health and drinking water sources.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)—
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows:
‘‘(A) 4 proposals in any 1 region of the 
National Forest System to be funded during 
any fiscal year; and’’; 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and 
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(C) as subparagraph (B); and 
(4) in subsection (f)(6), by striking ‘‘2019 
through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2025 through 2030’’. 
SEC. 117. UTILIZING GRAZING FOR WILDFIRE RISK REDUC-
TION. 
The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest 
Service, in coordination with holders of permits to graze 
livestock on Federal land, shall develop a strategy to in-
crease opportunities to utilize livestock grazing as a wild-
fire risk reduction strategy, including—
(1) completion of reviews (as required under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.)) to allow permitted grazing on vacant 
grazing allotments during instances of drought, wild-
fire, or other natural disasters that disrupt grazing 
on allotments already permitted; 
(2) use of targeted grazing; 
(3) increased use of temporary permits to pro-
mote targeted fuels reduction and reduction of 
invasive annual grasses;
(4) increased use of grazing as a postfire recov-
ery and restoration strategy, where appropriate; and 
(5) use of all applicable authorities under the 
law. 
SEC. 118. WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
Section 303 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act 
of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6542(g)(4)(B)) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1) 
through (7) as paragraphs (2) through (8), re-
spectively; 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as 
so redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(1) ADJACENT
LAND.—The term ‘adjacent 
land’ means non-Federal land, including State, local, 
and private land, that is adjacent to, and within the 
same watershed as, National Forest System land on 
which a watershed protection and restoration project 
is carried out under this section.’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated—
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(G) and (H) as subparagraphs (K) and 
(L), respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(F) the following:
‘‘(G) an acequia association; 
‘‘(H) a local, regional, or other public enti-
ty that manages stormwater or wastewater re-
sources or other related water infrastructure; 
‘‘(I) a land-grant mercedes; 
‘‘(J) a local, regional, or other private enti-
ty that has water delivery authority;’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary shall’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A watershed protection 
and restoration project under the Program shall be 
designed to—
‘‘(A) protect and restore watershed health, 
water supply and quality, a municipal or agri-
cultural water supply system, and water-related 
infrastructure; 
‘‘(B) protect and restore forest health from 
insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or 
‘‘(C) advance any combination of the pur-
poses described in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
‘‘(3) PRIORITIES.—In selecting watershed pro-
tection and restoration projects under the Program,
the Secretary shall give priority to projects that 
would—
‘‘(A) provide risk management benefits as-
sociated with: drought; wildfire; post-wildfire 
conditions; extreme weather; flooding; resilience 
to climate change; and watershed and fire resil-
ience, including minimizing risks to watershed 
health, water supply and quality, and water-re-
lated infrastructure, including municipal and 
agricultural water supply systems; 
‘‘(B) support aquatic restoration and con-
servation efforts that complement existing or 
planned forest restoration or wildfire risk re-
duction efforts; or 
‘‘(C) provide quantifiable benefits to water 
supply or quality and include the use of nature-
based solutions, such as restoring wetland and 
riparian ecosystems. 
‘‘(4) CONDITIONS FOR PROJECTS ON ADJACENT 
LAND.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—No project or activity 
may be carried out under this section on adja-
cent land unless the owner of the adjacent land 
agrees in writing that the owner is a willing and
engaged partner in carrying out that project or 
activity. 
‘‘(B) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to authorize any change in—
‘‘(i) the ownership of adjacent land on 
which a project or activity is carried out 
under this section; or 
‘‘(ii) the management of adjacent land 
on which a project or activity is carried out 
under this section, except during the car-
rying out of that project or activity.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘with 
end water users’’ and inserting ‘‘with end water 
users to protect and restore the condition of 
National Forest watersheds and adjacent land 
that provide water—
‘‘(A) to the end water users subject to the 
agreement; or 
‘‘(B) for the benefit of another end water 
user.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)—
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘or’’ at the end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(D) as subparagraph (E); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following: 
‘‘(D) a good neighbor agreement entered 
into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) COOPERATION WITH NON-FEDERAL PART-
NERS.—The Secretary shall cooperate with non-Fed-
eral partners in carrying out assessments, planning, 
project design, and project implementation under 
this section.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)—
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—A water source manage-
ment plan shall be—
‘‘(A) designed to protect and restore eco-
logical integrity (as defined in section 219.19 of 
title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in ef-
fect on the date of enactment of this subpara-
graph)); 
‘‘(B) based on the best available scientific 
information; and
‘‘(C) conducted in a manner consistent 
with the forest plan applicable to the National 
Forest System land on which the watershed 
protection and restoration project is carried 
out.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) REDUCING
REDUNDANCY.—An existing 
watershed plan, such as a watershed protection and 
restoration action plan developed under section 
304(a)(3), or other applicable watershed planning 
documents as approved by the Secretary may be 
used as the basis for a water source management 
plan under this subsection.’’; and 
(5) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘primary 
purpose of’’ and all that follows through the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘primary purpose of ad-
vancing any of the purposes described in subsection 
(b)(2).’’. 
SEC. 119. WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK TECH-
NICAL CORRECTIONS. 
Section 304(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration 
Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6543(a)) is amended in para-
graphs (3) and (5) by striking ‘‘protection and’’.
Subtitle C—Litigation Reform 
SEC. 121. COMMONSENSE LITIGATION REFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A court shall not enjoin a covered 
agency action if the court determines that the plaintiff is 
unable to demonstrate that the claim of the plaintiff is 
likely to succeed on the merits. 
(b) BALANCING SHORT- AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS 
OF COVERED AGENCY ACTION IN CONSIDERING INJUNC-
TIVE RELIEF.—As part of its weighing the equities while 
considering any request for an injunction that applies to 
a covered agency action, the court reviewing such action 
shall balance the impact to the ecosystem likely affected 
by such action of—
(1) the short- and long-term effects of under-
taking such action; against 
(2) the short- and long-term effects of not un-
dertaking such action. 
(c) LIMITATIONS ON JUDICIAL REVIEW.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law (except this section), in the case of 
a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial 
review of a covered agency action—
(A) a court shall not hold unlawful, set 
aside, or otherwise limit, delay, stay, vacate, or
enjoin such agency action unless the court de-
termines that—
(i) such action poses or will pose a 
risk of a proximate and substantial envi-
ronmental harm; and 
(ii) there is no other equitable remedy 
available as a matter of law; and 
(B) if a court determines that subpara-
graph (A) does not apply to the covered agency 
action the only remedy the court may order 
with regard to such agency action is to remand 
the matter to the agency with instructions to, 
during the 180-day period beginning on the 
date of the order, take such additional actions 
as may be necessary to redress any legal wrong 
suffered by, or adverse effect on, the plaintiff, 
except such additional actions may not include 
the preparation of a new agency document un-
less the court finds the agency was required 
and failed to prepare such agency document. 
(2) EFFECT OF REMAND.—In the case of a cov-
ered agency action to which paragraph (1)(B) ap-
plies, the agency may—
(A) continue to carry out such agency ac-
tion to the extent the action does not impact
the additional actions required pursuant to such 
paragraph; and 
(B) if the agency action relates to an agen-
cy document, use any format to correct such 
document (including a supplemental environ-
mental document, memorandum, or errata 
sheet). 
(d) LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law (except this section), a claim arising 
under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered 
agency action shall be barred unless—
(1) with respect to an agency document or the 
application of a categorical exclusion noticed in the 
Federal Register, such claim is filed not later than 
120 days after the date of publication of a notice in 
the Federal Register of agency intent to carry out 
the fireshed management project relating to such 
agency document or application, unless a shorter pe-
riod is specified in such Federal law; 
(2) in the case of an agency document or the 
application of a categorical exclusion not described 
in paragraph (1), such claim is filed not later than 
120 days after the date that is the earlier of—
(A) the date on which such agency docu-
ment or application is published; and
(B) the date on which such agency docu-
ment or application is noticed; and 
(3) in the case of a covered agency action for 
which there was a public comment period, such 
claim—
(A) is filed by a party that—
(i) participated in the administrative 
proceedings regarding the fireshed man-
agement project relating to such action; 
and 
(ii) submitted a comment during such 
public comment period and such comment 
was sufficiently detailed to put the applica-
ble agency on notice of the issue upon 
which the party seeks judicial review; and 
(B) is related to such comment. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—ln this section: 
(1) AGENCY
DOCUMENT.—The term ‘‘agency 
document’’ means, with respect to a fireshed man-
agement project, a record of decision, environmental 
document, or programmatic environmental docu-
ment. 
(2) COVERED
AGENCY
ACTION.—The term 
‘‘covered agency action’’ means—
(A) the establishment of a fireshed man-
agement project by an agency; 
(B) the application of a categorical exclu-
sion to a fireshed management project; 
(C) the preparation of any agency docu-
ment for a fireshed management project; or 
(D) any other agency action as part of a 
fireshed management project. 
(3) NEPA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘categorical ex-
clusion’’, ‘‘environmental document’’, and ‘‘pro-
grammatic environmental document’’ have the mean-
ings given such terms, respectively, in section 111 of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4336e). 
SEC. 122. CONSULTATION ON FOREST PLANS. 
(a) FOREST SERVICE PLANS.—Section 6(d)(2) of the 
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act 
of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604(d)(2)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) NO
ADDITIONAL
CONSULTATION
RE-
QUIRED
UNDER
CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation 
under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) or section 402.16 of
title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
regulation), on a land management plan approved, 
amended, or revised under this section when—
‘‘(A) a new species is listed or critical habi-
tat is designated under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or 
‘‘(B) new information reveals effects of the 
land management plan that may affect a spe-
cies listed or critical habitat designated under 
that Act in a manner or to an extent not pre-
viously considered.’’. 
(b) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS.—Sec-
tion 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(g) NO ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION REQUIRED 
UNDER
CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be re-
quired to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1536(a)(2)) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land use plan 
approved, amended, or revised under this section when—
‘‘(1) a new species is listed or critical habitat 
is designated under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or 
‘‘(2) new information reveals effects of the land 
use plan that may affect a species listed or critical 
habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to 
an extent not previously considered.’’. 
TITLE II—PROTECTING COMMU-
NITIES IN THE WILDLAND-
URBAN INTERFACE 
SEC. 201. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall 
jointly establish an interagency program to be known as 
the ‘‘Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program’’ that 
shall consist of at least one representative from each of 
the following: 
(1) The Office of Wildland Fire of the Depart-
ment of the Interior. 
(2) The National Park Service. 
(3) The Bureau of Land Management. 
(4) The United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice. 
(5) The Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(6) The Forest Service. 
(7) The Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy. 
(8) The United States Fire Administration. 
(9) The National Institute of Standards and 
Technology. 
(10) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the program estab-
lished under subsection (a) is to support interagency co-
ordination in reducing the risk of, and the damages result-
ing from, wildfires in communities (including tribal com-
munities) in the wildland-urban interface through—
(1) advancing research and science in wildfire 
resilience and land management, including support 
for non-Federal research partnerships; 
(2) supporting adoption by Indian Tribes and 
local governmental entities of fire-resistant building 
methods, codes, and standards; 
(3) supporting efforts by Indian Tribes or local 
governmental entities to address the effects of 
wildland fire on such communities, including prop-
erty damages, air quality, and water quality;
(4) encouraging public-private partnerships to 
conduct hazardous fuels management activities in 
the wildland-urban interface; 
(5) providing technical and financial assistance 
targeted towards communities, including tribal com-
munities, through streamlined and unified technical 
assistance and grant management mechanisms, in-
cluding the portal and grant application established 
under subsection (c), to—
(A) encourage critical risk reduction meas-
ures on private property with high wildfire risk 
exposure in such communities; and 
(B) mitigate costs for and improve capac-
ity among such communities. 
(c) PORTAL AND UNIFORM GRANT APPLICATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretaries and 
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency shall establish a portal through 
which a person may submit a single, uniform appli-
cation for any of the following: 
(A) A community wildfire defense grant 
under section 40803(f) of the Infrastructure In-
vestment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(f)).
(B) An emergency management perform-
ance grant under section 662 of the Post-
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 
2006 (6 U.S.C. 761). 
(C) A grant under section 33 of the Fed-
eral Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 
(15 U.S.C. 2229). 
(D) A grant under section 34 of the Fed-
eral Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 
(15 U.S.C. 2229a). 
(E) Financial or technical assistance or a 
grant under sections 203, 205, 404, 406, or 
420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5133, 5135, 5170c, 5172, 5187). 
(2) SIMPLIFICATION OF APPLICATION.—In es-
tablishing the portal and application under para-
graph (1), the Secretaries and the Administrator 
shall seek to reduce the complexity and length of the 
application process for the grants described in para-
graph (1). 
(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretaries 
shall provide technical assistance to communities or 
persons seeking to apply for financial assistance
through the portal using the application established 
under paragraph (1). 
(d) SUNSET.—The program established under this 
section shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 202. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE DEFENSE RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall, acting 
jointly, expand the Joint Fire Science Program to include 
a performance-driven research and development program 
known as the ‘‘Community Wildfire Defense Research 
Program’’ for the purpose of testing and advancing inno-
vative designs to create or improve the wildfire-resistance 
of structures and communities. 
(b) PROGRAM PRIORITIES.—In carrying out the pro-
gram established under subsection (a), the Secretaries 
shall evaluate opportunities to create wildfire-resistant 
structures and communities through—
(1) different affordable building materials, in-
cluding mass timber; 
(2) home hardening, including policies to 
incentivize and incorporate defensible space; 
(3) subdivision design and other land use plan-
ning and design; 
(4) landscape architecture; and
(5) other wildfire-resistant designs, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(c) COMMUNITY WILDFIRE DEFENSE INNOVATION 
PRIZE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program 
established under subsection (a), the Secretaries 
shall carry out a competition through which a person 
may submit to the Secretaries innovative designs for 
the creation or improvement of an ignition-resistant 
structure or fire-adapted communities. 
(2) PRIZE.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations made in advance for such purpose, the 
Secretaries may award a prize under the competition 
described in paragraph (1), based on criteria estab-
lished by the Secretaries and in accordance with 
paragraph (3). 
(3) SCALE.—In awarding a prize under para-
graph (2), the Secretaries shall prioritize for an 
award designs with the most potential to scale to ex-
isting infrastructure. 
(d) COLLABORATION
AND
NONDUPLICATION.—In 
carrying out the program established under subsection (a), 
the Secretaries shall ensure collaboration and nonduplica-
tion of activities with the Building Technologies Office of 
the Department of Energy.
(e) SUNSET.—The program established under sub-
section (a) shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 203. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FACILITY INSPEC-
TION, AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 
RELATING TO ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND 
DISTRIBUTION FACILITY RIGHTS-OF-WAY. 
(a) HAZARD TREES WITHIN 150 FEET OF ELECTRIC 
POWER LINE.—Section 512(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1772(a)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking ‘‘10’’ and in-
serting ‘‘150’’. 
(b) CONSULTATION WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.—
Section 
512(c)(3)(E) 
of 
such 
Act 
(43 
U.S.C. 
1772(c)(3)(E)) is amended—
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period and in-
serting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) consulting with a private land-
owner with respect to any hazard trees 
identified for removal from land owned by 
the private landowner.’’.
(c) REVIEW
AND
APPROVAL
PROCESS.—Section 
512(c)(4)(A)(iv) 
of 
such 
Act 
(43 
U.S.C. 
1772(c)(4)(A)(iv)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(iv) ensures that—
‘‘(I) a plan submitted without a 
modification under clause (iii) shall be 
automatically approved 120 days after 
being submitted; and 
‘‘(II) with respect to a plan sub-
mitted with a modification under 
clause (iii), if not approved within 120 
days after being submitted, the Sec-
retary concerned shall develop and 
submit a letter to the owner and oper-
ator describing—
‘‘(aa) a detailed timeline (to 
conclude within 165 days after 
the submission of the plan) for 
completing review of the plan; 
‘‘(bb) any identified defi-
ciencies with the plan and spe-
cific opportunities for the owner 
and operator to address such de-
ficiencies; and
‘‘(cc) any other relevant in-
formation, as determined by the 
Secretary concerned.’’. 
SEC. 204. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR ELECTRIC UTIL-
ITY LINES RIGHTS-OF-WAY. 
(a) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION ESTABLISHED.—For-
est management activities described in subsection (b) are 
a category of activities hereby designated as being cat-
egorically excluded from the preparation of an environ-
mental assessment or an environmental impact statement 
under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332). 
(b) FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES DESIGNATED 
FOR CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—The forest management 
activities designated under subsection (a) for a categorical 
exclusion are—
(1) the development and approval of a vegeta-
tion management, facility inspection, and operation 
and maintenance plan submitted under section 
512(c)(1) of the Federal Land Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(1)) by the 
Secretary concerned; and 
(2) the implementation of routine activities con-
ducted under the plan referred to in paragraph (1).
(c) AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—
On and after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary concerned may use the categorical exclusion estab-
lished under subsection (a) in accordance with this section. 
(d) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN AREAS FROM CATEGOR-
ICAL EXCLUSION.—The categorical exclusion established 
under subsection (a) shall not apply to any forest manage-
ment activity conducted—
(1) in a component of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System; or 
(2) on National Forest System lands on which 
the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited 
by an Act of Congress. 
(e) PERMANENT ROADS.—
(1) PROHIBITION ON ESTABLISHMENT.—A for-
est management activity designated under subsection 
(b) shall not include the establishment of a perma-
nent road. 
(2) EXISTING
ROADS.—The Secretary con-
cerned may carry out necessary maintenance and re-
pair on an existing permanent road for the purposes 
of conducting a forest management activity des-
ignated under subsection (b). 
(3) TEMPORARY
ROADS.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall decommission any temporary road con-
structed for carrying out a forest management activ-
ity designated under subsection (b) not later than 
the date that is 3 years after the date on which the 
forest management activity is completed. 
(f) APPLICABLE LAWS.—Clauses (iii) and (iv) of sec-
tion 106(a)(3) shall apply to forest management activities 
designated under subsection (b). 
SEC. 205. SEEDS OF SUCCESS. 
(a) STRATEGY ESTABLISHED.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secre-
taries and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly develop 
and implement a strategy, to be known as the ‘‘Seeds of 
Success strategy’’, to enhance the domestic supply chain 
of seeds. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under sub-
section (a) shall include a plan for each of the following: 
(1) Facilitating sustained interagency coordina-
tion in, and a comprehensive approach to, native 
plant materials development and restoration. 
(2) Promoting the re-seeding of native or fire-
resistant vegetation post-wildfire, particularly in the 
wildland-urban interface. 
(3) Creating and consolidating information on 
native or fire-resistant vegetation and sharing such
information with State governments, Indian Tribes, 
and local governments. 
(4) Building regional programs and partner-
ships to promote the development of materials made 
from plants native to the United States and restore 
such plants to their respective, native habitats within 
the United States, giving priority to the building of 
such programs and partnerships in regions of the 
Bureau of Land Management where such partner-
ships and programs do not already exist as of the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(5) Expanding seed storage and seed-cleaning 
infrastructure. 
(6) Expanding the Warehouse System of the 
Bureau of Land Management, particularly the cold 
storage capacity of the Warehouse System. 
(7) Shortening the timeline for the approval of 
permits to collect seeds on public lands managed by 
the Bureau of Land Management. 
(c) REPORT.—The Secretaries and the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the relevant Congressional Com-
mittees the strategy developed under paragraph (1).
SEC. 206. PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PRIORITY REFOREST-
ATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS OF DE-
PARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, in coordination with the heads of covered Federal 
agencies, shall establish a program to provide support for 
priority projects identified under subsection (c)(2), in ac-
cordance with this section. 
(b) SUPPORT.—In carrying out the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary may provide support 
through—
(1) cooperative agreements entered into in ac-
cordance with processes established by the Sec-
retary; and 
(2) contracts, including contracts established 
pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). 
(c) 
ANNUAL
IDENTIFICATION
OF
PRIORITY 
PROJECTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
of the Interior, in consultation with the heads of covered 
Federal agencies, shall—
(1) identify lands of the United States adminis-
tered by, or under the jurisdiction of, the Secretary 
of the Interior that require reforestation and res-
toration due to unplanned disturbances and that are 
unlikely to experience natural regeneration without 
assistance; and 
(2) establish a list of priority projects for refor-
estation and restoration for the upcoming year, 
which may include activities to ensure adequate and 
appropriate seed and seedling availability to further 
the objectives of other priority projects. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the program 
under subsection (a) and the requirements under sub-
section (c), the Secretary shall consult or collaborate with, 
as appropriate, and inform the following: 
(1) State and local governments. 
(2) Indian Tribes. 
(3) Covered institutions of higher education. 
(4) Federal agencies that administer lands of 
the United States that adjoin or are proximal to 
lands that are the subject of priority projects and 
potential priority projects. 
(5) Other stakeholders, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the relevant
Congressional Committees a report that includes the fol-
lowing: 
(1) An accounting of all lands identified under 
subsection (c)(1) for the period covered by the re-
port. 
(2) A list of priority projects identified under 
subsection (c)(2) for the period covered by the re-
port and, with respect to each such priority project, 
any support issued under the program under sub-
section (a) and any progress made towards reforest-
ation and restoration. 
(3) An accounting of each contract and cooper-
ative agreement established under the program 
under subsection (a). 
(4) A description of the actions taken in accord-
ance with subsection (d). 
(5) Assessments with respect to—
(A) gaps in—
(i) the implementation of the program 
under subsection (a); and 
(ii) the progress made under the pro-
gram with respect to priority projects; and 
(B) opportunities to procure funding nec-
essary to address any such gaps.
(f) NONDUPLICATION.—In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary of the Interior shall collaborate with the Sec-
retary and the Secretary of Defense to ensure the non-
duplication of activities carried out under section 205. 
(g) SUNSET.—The authority provided under this sec-
tion shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘covered Federal agency’’ means the National Park 
Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 
the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of 
Reclamation, or the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
(2) COVERED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘‘covered institution of higher 
education’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘eligible 
institution’’ in section 301(e)(3). 
(3) 
NATURAL
REGENERATION; 
REFOREST-
ATION.—The terms ‘‘natural regeneration’’ and ‘‘re-
forestation’’ have the meanings given such terms in 
section 3(e)(4)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Re-
newable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
1601(3)(4)(A)). 
(4) RESTORATION.—The term ‘‘restoration’’ 
means activities that facilitate the recovery of an
ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or de-
stroyed, including the reestablishment of appropriate 
plant species composition and community structure. 
(5) UNPLANNED ECOSYSTEM DISTURBANCE.—
The term ‘‘unplanned ecosystem disturbance’’ means 
any unplanned disturbance that disrupts the struc-
ture or composition of an ecosystem, including a 
wildfire, an infestation of insects or disease, and a 
weather event. 
SEC. 207. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPAYMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
STANDARD
OPERATING 
PROCEDURES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall—
(1) establish standard operating procedures re-
lating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost 
share agreements established under the Act of May 
27, 1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as 
the ‘‘Reciprocal Fire Protection Act’’); and 
(2) with respect to each fire suppression cost 
share agreement in operation on such date—
(A) review each such agreement; and 
(B) modify each agreement as necessary to 
comply with the standard operating procedures 
required under paragraph (1).
(b) ALIGNMENT OF FIRE SUPPRESSION COST SHARE 
AGREEMENTS WITH COOPERATIVE FIRE PROTECTION 
AGREEMENTS.—The standard operating procedures re-
quired under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement 
that each fire suppression cost share agreement be aligned 
with each of the cooperative fire protection agreements ap-
plicable to the entity subject to such fire suppression cost 
share agreement. 
(c) PAYMENTS PURSUANT TO COST SHARE AGREE-
MENTS.—With respect to payments made pursuant to fire 
suppression cost share agreements, the standard operating 
procedures required under subsection (a)(1) shall require 
that the Federal paying entity reimburse a local fire de-
partment if such fire department submits an invoice in 
accordance with cost settlement procedures. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire 
suppression cost share agreement repayments to local fire 
suppression organizations as soon as practicable after fire 
suppression occurs but not later than 1 year after fire sup-
pression occurs.
TITLE 
III—TRANSPARENCY, 
TECHNOLOGY, AND PARTNER-
SHIPS 
Subtitle A—Transparency and 
Technology 
SEC. 301. BIOCHAR INNOVATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR 
CONSERVATION, 
HEALTH, 
AND 
AD-
VANCEMENTS IN RESEARCH. 
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations made in advance for 
such purpose, not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the covered Sec-
retaries shall establish a program to enter into 
partnerships with eligible entities to carry out 
demonstration projects to support the develop-
ment and commercialization of biochar in ac-
cordance with this subsection. 
(B) 
LOCATION
OF
DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS.—In carrying out the program estab-
lished under subparagraph (A), the covered 
Secretaries shall, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, enter into partnerships with eligible en-
tities such that not fewer than one demonstra-
tion project is carried out in each region of the 
Forest Service and each region of the Bureau 
of Land Management. 
(2) PROPOSALS.—To be eligible to enter into a 
partnership to carry out a biochar demonstration 
project under paragraph (1)(A), an eligible entity 
shall submit to the covered Secretaries a proposal at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation as the covered Secretaries may require. 
(3) PRIORITY.—In selecting proposals under 
paragraph (2), the covered Secretaries shall give pri-
ority to entering into partnerships with eligible enti-
ties that submit proposals to carry out biochar dem-
onstration projects that—
(A) have the most potential to create new 
jobs and contribute to local economies, particu-
larly in rural areas; 
(B) have the most potential to dem-
onstrate—
(i) new and innovative uses of biochar; 
(ii) market viability for cost effective 
biochar-based products; 
(iii) the restorative benefits of biochar 
with respect to forest heath and resiliency, 
including forest soils and watersheds; or
(iv) any combination of purposes spec-
ified in clauses (i) through (iii); 
(C) are located in areas that have a high 
need for biochar production, as determined by 
the covered Secretaries, due to—
(i) nearby lands identified as having 
high or very high or extreme risk of wild-
fire; 
(ii) availability of sufficient quantities 
of feedstocks; or 
(iii) a high level of demand for 
biochar or other commercial byproducts of 
biochar; or 
(D) satisfy any combination of purposes 
specified in subparagraphs (A) through (C). 
(4) USE OF FUNDS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1)(A), the cov-
ered Secretaries may enter into partnerships and 
provide funding to such partnerships to carry out 
demonstration projects to—
(A) acquire and test various feedstocks and 
their efficacy; 
(B) develop and optimize commercially and 
technologically viable biochar production units, 
including mobile and permanent units;
(C) demonstrate—
(i) the production of biochar from for-
est residue; and 
(ii) the use of biochar to restore forest 
health and resiliency; 
(D) build, expand, or establish biochar fa-
cilities; 
(E) conduct research on new and innova-
tive uses of biochar; 
(F) demonstrate cost-effective market op-
portunities for biochar and biochar-based prod-
ucts; 
(G) carry out any other activities the cov-
ered Secretaries determine appropriate; or 
(H) any combination of the purposes speci-
fied in subparagraphs (A) through (F). 
(5) FEEDSTOCK REQUIREMENTS.—To the max-
imum extent practicable, an eligible entity that car-
ries out a biochar demonstration project under this 
subsection shall, with respect to the feedstock used 
under such project, derive at least 50 percent of 
such feedstock from forest thinning and manage-
ment activities, including mill residues, conducted on 
National Forest System lands or public lands. 
(6) REVIEW OF BIOCHAR DEMONSTRATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The covered Secretaries 
shall conduct regionally-specific research, in-
cluding economic analyses and life-cycle assess-
ments, on any biochar produced from a dem-
onstration project carried out under the pro-
gram established in paragraph (1)(A), includ-
ing—
(i) the effects of such biochar on—
(I) forest health and resiliency; 
(II) carbon capture and seques-
tration, including increasing soil car-
bon in the short-term and long-term; 
(III) productivity, reduced input 
costs, and water retention in agricul-
tural practices; 
(IV) the health of soil and grass-
lands used for grazing activities, in-
cluding grazing activities on National 
Forest System land and public land; 
and 
(V) environmental remediation 
activities, including abandoned mine 
land remediation;
(ii) the effectiveness of biochar as a 
co-product of biofuels or in biochemicals; 
and 
(iii) the effectiveness of other poten-
tial uses of biochar to determine if any 
such use is technologically and commer-
cially viable. 
(B) COORDINATION.—The covered Secre-
taries shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
provide data, analyses, and other relevant infor-
mation collected under subparagraph (A) with 
recipients of a grant under subsection (b). 
(7) LIMITATION
ON
FUNDING
FOR
ESTAB-
LISHING BIOCHAR FACILITIES.—If the covered Sec-
retaries provide to an eligible entity that enters into 
a partnership with the covered Secretaries under 
paragraph (1)(A) funding for establishing a biochar 
facility, such funding may not exceed 35 percent of 
the total capital cost of establishing such biochar fa-
cility. 
(b) BIOCHAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT 
PROGRAM.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the In-
terior, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, 
shall establish or expand an existing applied biochar
research and development grant program to make 
competitive grants to eligible institutions to carry 
out the activities described in paragraph (3). 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this subsection, an eligible institution 
shall submit to the Secretary a proposal at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Secretary may require. 
(3) USE
OF
FUNDS.—An eligible institution 
that receives a grant under this subsection shall use 
the grant funds to conduct applied research on—
(A) the effect of biochar on forest health 
and resiliency, accounting for variations in 
biochar, soil, climate, and other factors; 
(B) the effect of biochar on soil health and 
water retention, accounting for variations in 
biochar, soil, climate, and other factors; 
(C) the long-term carbon sequestration po-
tential of biochar; 
(D) the best management practices with 
respect to biochar and biochar-based products 
that maximize—
(i) carbon sequestration benefits; and 
(ii) the commercial viability and appli-
cation of such products in forestry, agri-
culture, environmental remediation, water 
quality improvement, and any other similar 
uses, as determined by the Secretary; 
(E) the regional uses of biochar to increase 
productivity and profitability, including—
(i) uses in agriculture and environ-
mental remediation; and 
(ii) use as a co-product in fuel produc-
tion; 
(F) new and innovative uses for biochar 
byproducts; and 
(G) opportunities to expand markets for 
biochar and create related jobs, particularly in 
rural areas. 
(c) REPORTS.—
(1) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
covered Secretaries shall submit to Congress a re-
port that—
(A) includes policy and program rec-
ommendations to improve the widespread use of 
biochar; 
(B) identifies any area of research needed 
to advance biochar commercialization; and
(C) identifies barriers to further biochar 
commercialization, including permitting and 
siting considerations. 
(2) MATERIALS
SUBMITTED
IN
SUPPORT
OF 
THE
PRESIDENT’S
BUDGET.—Beginning with the 
second fiscal year that begins after the date of en-
actment of this Act and annually thereafter until the 
date described in subsection (d), the covered Secre-
taries shall include in the materials submitted to 
Congress in support of the President’s budget pursu-
ant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, 
a report describing, for the fiscal year covered by the 
report, the status of each demonstration project car-
ried out under subsection (a) and each research and 
development grant carried out under subsection (b). 
(d) SUNSET.—The authority to carry out this section 
shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BIOCHAR.—The term ‘‘biochar’’ means car-
bonized biomass produced by converting feedstock 
through reductive thermal processing for non-fuel 
uses. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means—
(A) a State, local, special district, or Tribal 
government; 
(B) an eligible institution; 
(C) a private, non-private, or cooperative 
entity or organization; 
(D) a National Laboratory (as such term 
is defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act 
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)); or 
(E) a partnership or consortium of two or 
more entities described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (D). 
(3) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble institution’’ means land-grant colleges and uni-
versities, including institutions eligible for funding 
under the—
(A) Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, 
chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.); 
(B) Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 417, 
chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including 
Tuskegee University; 
(C) Public Law 87–788 (commonly known 
as the ‘‘McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962’’); or 
(D) Equity in Educational Land-Grant 
Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public 
Law 103–382).
(4) FEEDSTOCK.—The term ‘‘feedstock’’ means 
excess biomass in the form of plant matter or mate-
rials that serves as the raw material for the produc-
tion of biochar. 
(5) COVERED SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered Secretaries’’ means—
(A) the Secretary, acting through the Chief 
of the Forest Service; 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Director of the Bureau of Land 
Management; and 
(C) the Secretary of Energy, acting 
through the Director of the Office of Science. 
SEC. 302. ACCURATE HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION RE-
PORTS. 
(a) INCLUSION OF HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION 
REPORT IN MATERIALS SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF THE 
PRESIDENT’S BUDGET.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with the first fis-
cal year that begins after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Sec-
retary concerned shall include in the materials sub-
mitted to Congress in support of the President’s 
budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code, a report on the number of acres of
Federal land on which the Secretary concerned car-
ried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during 
the preceding fiscal year. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—For purposes of the re-
port required under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
concerned shall—
(A) in determining the number of acres of 
Federal land on which the Secretary concerned 
carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities 
during the period covered by the report—
(i) record acres of Federal land on 
which hazardous fuels reduction activities 
were completed during such period; and 
(ii) record each acre described in 
clause (i) once in the report, regardless of 
whether multiple hazardous fuels reduction 
activities were carried out on such acre 
during such period; and 
(B) with respect to the acres of Federal 
land recorded in the report, include information 
on—
(i) which such acres are located in the 
wildland-urban interface;
(ii) the level of wildfire risk (high, 
moderate, or low) on the first and last day 
of the period covered by the report; 
(iii) the types of hazardous fuels ac-
tivities completed for such acres, delin-
eating between whether such activities 
were conducted—
(I) in a wildfire managed for re-
source benefits; or 
(II) through a planned project; 
(iv) the cost per acre of hazardous 
fuels activities carried out during the pe-
riod covered by the report; 
(v) the region or system unit in which 
the acres are located; and 
(vi) the effectiveness of the hazardous 
fuels reduction activities on reducing the 
risk of wildfire. 
(3) TRANSPARENCY.—The Secretary concerned 
shall make each report submitted under paragraph 
(1) publicly available on the websites of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture and the Department of the Inte-
rior, as applicable. 
(b) ACCURATE DATA COLLECTION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary con-
cerned shall implement standardized procedures for 
tracking data related to hazardous fuels reduction 
activities carried out by the Secretary concerned. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The standardized procedures 
required under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) regular, standardized data reviews of 
the accuracy and timely input of data used to 
track hazardous fuels reduction activities; 
(B) verification methods that validate 
whether such data accurately correlates to the 
hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out 
by the Secretary concerned; 
(C) an analysis of the short- and long-term 
effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction 
activities on reducing the risk of wildfire; and 
(D) for hazardous fuels reduction activities 
that occur partially within the wildland-urban 
interface, methods to distinguish which acres 
are located within the wildland-urban interface 
and which acres are located outside the 
wildland-urban interface. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 2 weeks after im-
plementing the standardized procedures required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall 
submit to Congress a report that describes—
(A) such standardized procedures; and 
(B) program and policy recommendations 
to Congress to address any limitations in track-
ing data related to hazardous fuels reduction 
activities under this subsection. 
(c) GAO STUDY.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall—
(1) conduct a study on the implementation of 
this section, including any limitations with respect 
to—
(A) reporting hazardous fuels reduction ac-
tivities under subsection (a); or 
(B) tracking data related to hazardous 
fuels reduction activities under subsection (b); 
and 
(2) submit to Congress a report that describes 
the results of the study under paragraph (1). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) HAZARDOUS
FUELS
REDUCTION
ACTIV-
ITY.—The term ‘‘hazardous fuels reduction activ-
ity’’—
(A) means any vegetation management ac-
tivity to reduce the risk of wildfire, including 
mechanical treatments, grazing, and prescribed 
burning; and 
(B) does not include the awarding of con-
tracts to conduct hazardous fuels reduction ac-
tivities. 
(2) FEDERAL
LANDS.—The term ‘‘Federal 
lands’’ means lands under the jurisdiction of the 
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary. 
(e) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.—No addi-
tional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements 
of this section, and the activities authorized by this section 
are subject to the availability of appropriations made in 
advance for such purposes. 
SEC. 303. PUBLIC-PRIVATE WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY DE-
PLOYMENT AND DEMONSTRATION PARTNER-
SHIP. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘covered 
agency’’ means—
(A) each Federal land management agency 
(as such term is defined in the Federal Lands 
Recreation 
Enhancement 
Act 
(16 
U.S.C. 
6801));
(B) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; 
(C) the United States Fire Administration; 
(D) the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency; 
(E) the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration; 
(F) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 
(G) the Department of Defense; 
(H) a State, Tribal, county, or municipal 
fire department or district operating through 
the United States Fire Administration or pur-
suant to an agreement with a Federal agency; 
and 
(I) any other Federal agency involved in 
wildfire response. 
(2) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered en-
tity’’ means—
(A) a private entity; 
(B) a nonprofit organization; or 
(C) an institution of higher education (as 
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)). 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in coordina-
tion with the heads of the covered agencies, shall establish 
a deployment and demonstration pilot program (in this 
section referred to as ‘‘Pilot Program’’) for new and inno-
vative wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and 
mitigation technologies. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—In carrying out the Pilot Program, 
the Secretaries shall—
(1) incorporate the Pilot Program into the Na-
tional Wildfire Coordinating Group; 
(2) in consultation with the heads of covered 
agencies, identify and advance the demonstration 
and deployment of key technology priority areas with 
respect to wildfire prevention, detection, communica-
tion, and mitigation technologies, including—
(A) hazardous fuels reduction treatments 
or activities; 
(B) dispatch communications; 
(C) remote sensing, detection, and track-
ing; 
(D) safety equipment; 
(E) common operating pictures or oper-
ational dashboards; and 
(F) interoperable commercial data; and 
(3) connect each covered entity selected to par-
ticipate in the Pilot Program with the appropriate
covered agency to coordinate real-time and on-the-
ground testing of technology during wildland fire 
mitigation activities and training. 
(d) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to be selected to 
participate in the Pilot Program, a covered entity shall 
submit to the Secretaries an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retaries may require, including a proposal to demonstrate 
technologies specific to the key technology priority areas 
identified pursuant to subsection (c)(2). 
(e) 
PRIORITIZATION
OF
EMERGING
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—In selecting covered entities to participate in 
the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall give priority to 
covered entities—
(1) that have participated in the Fire Weather 
Testbed of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; or 
(2) developing and applying emerging tech-
nologies for wildfire mitigation, including artificial 
intelligence, quantum sensing, computing and quan-
tum-hybrid applications, thermal mid-wave infrared 
equipped low earth orbit satellites, augmented re-
ality, 5G private networks, and device-to-device com-
munications supporting nomadic mesh networks and 
detection.
(f) OUTREACH.—The Secretaries, in coordination 
with the heads of covered agencies, shall make public the 
key technology priority areas identified pursuant to sub-
section (c)(2) and invite covered entities to apply under 
subsection (d) to deploy and demonstrate their tech-
nologies to address such priority areas. 
(g) REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter for the duration of the Pilot Program, 
the Secretaries shall submit to the relevant Congressional 
Committees, the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report that includes, with respect to the Pilot 
Program, the following: 
(1) A list of participating covered entities. 
(2) A brief description of the technologies de-
ployed and demonstrated by each such covered enti-
ty. 
(3) An estimate of the cost of acquiring each 
such technology and applying the technology at 
scale. 
(4) Outreach efforts by Federal agencies to cov-
ered entities developing wildfire technologies.
(5) Assessments of, and recommendations relat-
ing to, new technologies with potential adoption and 
application at-scale in Federal land management 
agencies’ wildfire prevention, detection, communica-
tion, and mitigation efforts. 
(6) A description of the relationship and coordi-
nation between the Pilot Program and the activities 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, including the Fire Weather Testbed. 
(h) SUNSET.—The authority to carry out this section 
shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 304. GAO STUDY ON FOREST SERVICE POLICIES. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall—
(1) conduct a study evaluating—
(A) the effectiveness of Forest Service 
wildland firefighting operations; 
(B) transparency and accountability meas-
ures in the Forest Service’s budget and ac-
counting process; and 
(C) the suitability and feasibility of estab-
lishing a new Federal agency with the responsi-
bility of responding and suppressing wildland 
fires on Federal lands; and 
(2) submit to Congress a report that describes 
the results of the study required under paragraph 
(1). 
SEC. 305. FOREST SERVICE WESTERN HEADQUARTERS 
STUDY. 
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Chief of the Forest Service shall—
(1) conduct a study evaluating—
(A) potential locations for a Western head-
quarters for the Forest Service, including po-
tential locations in at least 3 different States lo-
cated west of the Mississippi river; and 
(B) the potential benefits of creating a 
Western headquarters for the Forest Service, 
including expected—
(i) improvements to customer service; 
(ii) improvements to employee recruit-
ment and retention; and 
(iii) operational efficiencies and cost 
savings; and 
(2) submit to Congress a report that describes 
the results of the study required under paragraph 
(1).
SEC. 306. KEEPING FOREST PLANS CURRENT AND MON-
ITORED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary—
(1) to the greatest extent practicable and sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations made in ad-
vance for such purpose—
(A) ensure forest plans comply with the re-
quirements of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest 
and Rangeland Resources Planning Act of 1974 
(16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)); and 
(B) prioritize revising any forest plan not 
in compliance with such section 6(f)(5)(A); 
(2) not be considered to be in violation of sec-
tion 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renew-
able 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; 
(3) not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, submit to the relevant 
Congressional Committees the date on which each 
forest plan required by such section 6 was most re-
cently revised, amended, or modified; 
(4) seek to publish a new, complete version of 
a forest plan that the Secretary has been directed to 
amend, revise, or modify by a court order within 60
100
days of such amendment, revision, or modification, 
subject to the availability of appropriations made in 
advance for such purpose; and 
(5) maintain a central, publicly accessible 
website with links to—
(A) the most recently available forest plan 
adopted, amended, or modified by a court order 
as a single document; and 
(B) the most recently published forest plan 
monitoring report for each unit of the National 
Forest System. 
(b) GOOD FAITH UPDATES.—If the Secretary is not 
acting expeditiously and in good faith, within the funding 
available to revise, amend, or modify a plan for a unit 
of the National Forest System as required by law or a 
court order, subsection (a) shall be void with respect to 
such plan and a court of proper jurisdiction may order 
completion of the plan on an accelerated basis. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
a report to the relevant Congressional Committees sum-
marizing the implementation of this section.
101
SEC. 307. CONTAINER AERIAL FIREFIGHTING SYSTEM 
(CAFFS). 
(a) EVALUATION.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the 
Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the National 
Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency 
Airtanker Board, shall jointly conduct an evaluation of the 
container aerial firefighting system to assess the use of 
such system to mitigate and suppress wildfires. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Sec-
retary of the Interior, in consultation with the National 
Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency 
Airtanker Board, shall jointly submit to the relevant Con-
gressional Committees a report that includes the results 
of the evaluation required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 308. STUDY ON PINE BEETLE INFESTATION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the 
Forest Service, shall—
(1) carry out a study on the causes and effects 
of, and solutions for, the infestation of pine beetles 
in the Northeastern region of the United States; and 
(2) submit to the relevant Congressional Com-
mittees a report that includes the results of the 
study required under paragraph (1).
102
SEC. 309. FIRE SAFE ELECTRICAL CORRIDORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In any special use permit or ease-
ment on National Forest System land provided to an elec-
trical utility, the Secretary may provide permission to cut 
and remove trees or other vegetation from within the vicin-
ity of distribution lines or transmission lines without re-
quiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal 
is consistent with—
(1) the applicable land and resource manage-
ment plan; and 
(2) other applicable environmental laws (includ-
ing regulations). 
(b) USE OF PROCEEDS.—A special use permit or 
easement that includes permission for cutting and removal 
described in subsection (a) shall include a requirement 
that, if the applicable electrical utility sells any portion 
of the material removed under the permit or easement, 
the electrical utility shall provide to the Secretary, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service, any proceeds re-
ceived from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred 
in the sale. 
(c) EFFECT.—Nothing in subsection (b) shall require 
the sale of any material removed under a permit or ease-
ment that includes permission for cutting and removal de-
scribed in subsection (a).
103
Subtitle B—White Oak Resilience 
SEC. 311. WHITE OAK RESTORATION INITIATIVE COALI-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The White Oak Restoration Ini-
tiative Coalition shall be established—
(1) as a voluntary collaborative group of Fed-
eral, State, Tribal, and local governments and pri-
vate and non-governmental organizations to carry 
out the duties described in subsection (b); and 
(2) in accordance with the charter titled ‘‘White 
Oak Initiative Coalition Charter’’ adopted by the 
White Oak Initiative Board of Directors on March 
21, 2023 (or a successor charter). 
(b) DUTIES.—In addition to the duties specified in 
the charter described in subsection (a)(2), the duties of 
the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition are—
(1) to coordinate Federal, State, Tribal, local, 
private, and non-governmental restoration of white 
oak in the United States; and 
(2) to make program and policy recommenda-
tions, consistent with applicable forest management 
plans, with respect to—
(A) changes necessary to address Federal 
and State policies that impede activities to im-
104
prove the health, resiliency, and natural regen-
eration of white oak; 
(B) adopting or modifying Federal and 
State policies to increase the pace and scale of 
white oak regeneration and resiliency of white 
oak; 
(C) options to enhance communication, co-
ordination, and collaboration between forest 
land owners, particularly for cross-boundary 
projects, to improve the health, resiliency, and 
natural regeneration of white oak; 
(D) research gaps that should be ad-
dressed to improve the best available science on 
white oak; 
(E) outreach to forest landowners with 
white oak or white oak regeneration potential; 
and 
(F) options and policies necessary to im-
prove the quality and quantity of white oak in 
tree nurseries. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, TECHNICAL SERV-
ICES, AND STAFF SUPPORT.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior and the Secretary shall make such personnel available 
to the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition for ad-
ministrative support, technical services, and development
105
and dissemination of educational materials as the Secre-
taries determine necessary to carry out this section. 
(d) PRIVATE FUNDING OF WHITE OAK RESTORA-
TION PROJECTS.—Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions made in advance for such purpose, the Secretary 
may make funds available to the White Oak Restoration 
Initiative Coalition to carry out this section from the ac-
count established pursuant to section 1241(f) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(f)). 
SEC. 312. FOREST SERVICE PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish and carry out 
5 pilot projects in national forests to restore white oak 
in such forests through white oak restoration and natural 
regeneration practices that are consistent with applicable 
forest management plans. 
(b) NATIONAL FORESTS RESERVED OR WITHDRAWN 
FROM THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.—At least 3 pilot projects re-
quired under subsection (a) shall be carried out on na-
tional forests reserved or withdrawn from the public do-
main. 
(c) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative 
agreements to carry out the pilot projects required under 
subsection (a).
106
(d) SUNSET.—The authority under this section shall 
terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 313. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WHITE OAK RE-
VIEW AND RESTORATION. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall carry out an assessment of land under the 
administrative jurisdiction of the Department of the 
Interior, including fish and wildlife refuges and 
abandoned mine land, to evaluate—
(A) whether white oak is present on such 
land; and 
(B) the potential to restore white oak for-
ests on such land. 
(2) USE OF INFORMATION.—In carrying out the 
assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
use information from sources other than the Depart-
ment of the Interior, including from the White Oak 
Initiative and the Forest Service. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress, and make publicly avail-
able on the website of the Department of the Inte-
107
rior, a report regarding the results of the assessment 
carried out under this subsection. 
(b) PILOT PROJECTS.—After the date on which the 
report required under subsection (a)(3) is submitted, the 
Secretary shall establish and carry out 5 pilot projects in 
different areas of land described in subsection (a)(1) to 
restore and naturally regenerate white oak. 
(c) AUTHORITY
TO
ENTER
INTO
COOPERATIVE 
AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of the Interior may enter 
into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects 
required under subsection (b). 
(d) SUNSET.—The authority under this section shall 
terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 314. WHITE OAK REGENERATION AND UPLAND OAK 
HABITAT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish a non-regulatory program to be known as the 
‘‘White Oak and Upland Oak Habitat Regeneration Pro-
gram’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Program’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out the Program, the Sec-
retary shall—
(1) draw upon the best available science and 
management plans for species of white oak to iden-
108
tify, prioritize, and implement restoration and con-
servation activities that will improve the growth of 
white oak within the United States; 
(2) collaborate and coordinate with the White 
Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition to prioritize 
white oak restoration initiatives; 
(3) adopt a white oak restoration strategy 
that—
(A) supports the implementation of a 
shared set of science-based restoration and con-
servation activities developed in accordance with 
paragraph (1); 
(B) targets cost effective projects with 
measurable results; and 
(C) maximizes restoration outcomes with 
no net gain of Federal full-time equivalent em-
ployees; and 
(4) establish the voluntary grant and technical 
assistance programs in accordance with subsection 
(e). 
(c) COORDINATION.—In establishing the Program 
the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Serv-
ice, shall consult with—
(1) the heads of Federal agencies, including—
109
(A) the Director of the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service; and 
(B) the Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; and 
(2) the Governor of each State in which res-
toration efforts will be carried out pursuant to the 
Program. 
(d) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Program in-
clude—
(1) coordinating restoration and conservation 
activities among Federal, State, local, and Tribal en-
tities and conservation partners to address white oak 
restoration priorities; 
(2) improving and regenerating white oak and 
upland oak forests and the wildlife habitat such for-
ests provide; 
(3) carrying out coordinated restoration and 
conservation activities that lead to the increased 
growth of species of white oak in native white oak 
regions on Federal, State, Tribal, and private land; 
(4) facilitating strategic planning to maximize 
the resilience of white oak systems and habitats 
under changing climate conditions; 
(5) engaging the public through outreach, edu-
cation, and citizen involvement to increase capacity
110
and support for coordinated restoration and con-
servation activities for species of white oak; and 
(6) increasing scientific capacity to support the 
planning, monitoring, and research activities nec-
essary to carry out such coordinated restoration and 
conservation activities. 
(e) GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent that funds are 
available to carry out this section, the Secretary 
shall establish a voluntary grant and technical as-
sistance program (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘grant program’’) to achieve the purposes of the 
Program described in subsection (d). 
(2) ADMINISTRATION.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
enter into a cooperative agreement with the Na-
tional Fish and Wildlife Foundation (in this 
subsection referred to as the ‘‘Foundation’’) to 
manage and administer the grant program. 
(B) FUNDING.—Subject to the availability 
of appropriations made in advance for such 
purpose, after the Secretary enters into a coop-
erative agreement with the Foundation under 
subparagraph (A), the Foundation shall for 
each fiscal year, receive amounts to carry out
111
this subsection in an advance payment of the 
entire amount on October 1, or as soon as prac-
ticable thereafter, of that fiscal year. 
(3) APPLICATION
OF
NATIONAL
FISH
AND 
WILDLIFE
FOUNDATION
ESTABLISHMENT
ACT.—
Amounts received by the Foundation to carry out 
the grant program shall be subject to the National 
Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 
U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), excluding section 10(a) of that 
Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)). 
(f) SUNSET.—The authority under this section shall 
terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 315. TREE NURSERY SHORTAGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—
(1) develop and implement a national strategy 
to increase the capacity of Federal, State, Tribal, 
and private tree nurseries to address the nationwide 
shortage of tree seedlings; and 
(2) coordinate such strategy with—
(A) the national reforestation strategy of 
the Forest Service; and
112
(B) each regional implementation plan for 
National Forests. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under sub-
section (a) shall—
(1) be based on the best available science and 
data; and 
(2) identify and address—
(A) regional seedling shortages of bareroot 
and container tree seedlings; 
(B) regional reforestation opportunities 
and the seedling supply necessary to fulfill such 
opportunities; 
(C) opportunities to enhance seedling di-
versity and close gaps in seed inventories; and 
(D) barriers to expanding, enhancing, or 
creating new infrastructure to increase nursery 
capacity. 
SEC. 316. WHITE OAK RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter into a 
memorandum of understanding with an Indian Tribe or 
institution, including a covered land grant college, to col-
laboratively conduct research on—
(1) white oak genes with resistance or tolerance 
to stress;
113
(2) white oak trees that exhibit vigor for the 
purpose of increasing survival and growth; 
(3) establishing a genetically diverse white oak 
seeds bank capable of responding to stressors; 
(4) providing a sustainable supply of white oak 
seedlings and genetic resources; 
(5) improved methods for aligning seed sources 
with the future climate at planting sites; 
(6) reforestation of white oak through natural 
and artificial regeneration; 
(7) improved methods for retaining and increas-
ing white oak trees in forests; 
(8) improved methods for reforesting aban-
doned mine land sites; and 
(9) economic and social aspects of white oak 
forest management across land ownerships. 
(b) CONSULT.—In carrying out the research under 
subsection (a), the Indian Tribe or institution, including 
a covered land grant college, that enters into the memo-
randum of understanding under such subsection may con-
sult with such States, nonprofit organizations, institutions 
of higher education, and other scientific bodies, as the en-
tity subject to such memorandum determines appropriate.
114
(c) SUNSET.—The authority under this section shall 
terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(d) COVERED LAND GRANT COLLEGE DEFINED.—
In this section, the term ‘‘covered land grant college’’ 
means an 1862 Institution, an 1890 Institution, or a 1994 
Institution (as such terms are defined, respectively, in sec-
tion 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)). 
SEC. 317. USDA FORMAL INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and 
in coordination with the Chief of the Forest Service, shall 
establish a formal initiative on white oak to—
(1) re-establish white oak forests where appro-
priate; 
(2) improve management of existing white oak 
forests to foster natural regeneration of white oak; 
(3) provide technical assistance to private land-
owners to re-establish, improve management of, and 
naturally regenerate white oak; 
(4) improve and expand white oak nursery 
stock; and 
(5) adapt and improve white oak seedlings.
115
(b) SUNSET.—The authority under this section shall 
terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 318. AUTHORITIES. 
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary of 
the Interior and the Secretary shall use the authorities 
provided under this title in combination with other au-
thorities to carry out projects, including—
(1) good neighbor agreements entered into 
under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(16 U.S.C. 2113) (as amended by this Act); and 
(2) stewardship contracting projects entered 
into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591) (as amended 
by this Act). 
TITLE IV—ENSURING CASUALTY 
ASSISTANCE FOR OUR FIRE-
FIGHTERS 
SEC. 401. WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT CASUALTY AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the Interior shall develop a Wildland Fire 
Management Casualty Assistance Program (referred to in
116
this section as the ‘‘Program’’) to provide assistance to 
the next-of-kin of—
(1) firefighters who, while in the line of duty, 
suffer illness or are critically injured or killed; and 
(2) wildland fire support personnel critically in-
jured or killed in the line of duty. 
(b) ASPECTS OF PROGRAM.—The Program shall ad-
dress the following: 
(1) The initial and any subsequent notifications 
to the next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire sup-
port personnel who—
(A) are killed in the line of duty; or 
(B) require hospitalization or treatment at 
a medical facility due to a line-of-duty injury or 
illness. 
(2) The reimbursement of next-of-kin for ex-
penses associated with travel to visit firefighters or 
wildland fire support personnel who—
(A) are killed in the line of duty; or 
(B) require hospitalization or treatment at 
a medical facility due to a line-of-duty injury or 
illness. 
(3) The qualifications, assignment, training, du-
ties, supervision, and accountability for the perform-
ance of casualty assistance responsibilities.
117
(4) The relief or transfer of casualty assistance 
officers, including notification to survivors of critical 
injury or illness in the line of duty and next-of-kin 
of the reassignment of such officers to other duties. 
(5) Centralized, short-term and long-term case 
management procedures for casualty assistance, in-
cluding rapid access by survivors of firefighters or 
wildland fire support personnel and casualty assist-
ance officers to expert case managers and coun-
selors. 
(6) The provision, through a computer acces-
sible website and other means and at no cost to sur-
vivors and next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire 
support personnel, of personalized, integrated infor-
mation on the benefits and financial assistance avail-
able to such survivors from the Federal Government. 
(7) The provision of information to survivors 
and next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire sup-
port personnel on mechanisms for registering com-
plaints about, or requests for, additional assistance 
related to casualty assistance. 
(8) Liaison with the Department of the Inte-
rior, the Department of Justice, and the Social Se-
curity Administration to ensure prompt and accurate 
resolution of issues relating to benefits administered
118
by those agencies for survivors of firefighters or 
wildland fire support personnel. 
(9) Data collection, in consultation with the 
United States Fire Administration and the National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, re-
garding the incidence and quality of casualty assist-
ance provided to survivors of firefighters or wildland 
fire support personnel. 
(c) LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH BENEFITS.—The Pro-
gram shall not affect existing authorities for Line-of-Duty 
Death benefits for Federal firefighters and wildland fire 
support personnel. 
(d) NEXT-OF-KIN DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘next-of-kin’’ means a person or persons in the high-
est category of priority as determined by the following list 
(categories appear in descending order of priority): 
(1) Surviving legal spouse. 
(2) Children (whether by current or prior mar-
riage) age 18 years or older in descending order of 
precedence by age. 
(3) Father or mother, unless custody has been 
vested, by court order, in another (adoptive parent 
takes precedence over natural parent). 
(4) Siblings (whole or half) age 18 years or 
older in descending order of precedence by age.
119
(5) Grandfather or grandmother. 
(6) Any other relative (order of precedence to 
be determined in accordance with the civil law of de-
scent of the deceased former member’s State of 
domicile at time of death). 
Passed the House of Representatives January 23, 
2025. 
Attest:
Clerk.
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 471
AN ACT 
To expedite under the National Environmental Pol-
icy Act of 1969 and improve forest management 
activities on National Forest System lands, on 
public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau 
of Land Management, and on Tribal lands to re-
turn resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested 
lands, and for other purposes.