114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2647 
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 
‘‘Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015’’. 
(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—EXPEDITED ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND AVAIL-
ABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS TO EXPEDITE FOREST 
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 101. Analysis of only two alternatives (action versus no action) in proposed 
collaborative forest management activities. 
Sec. 102. Categorical exclusion to expedite certain critical response actions. 
Sec. 103. Categorical exclusion to expedite salvage operations in response to 
catastrophic events. 
Sec. 104. Categorical exclusion to meet forest plan goals for early successional 
forests. 
Sec. 105. Clarification of existing categorical exclusion authority related to in-
sect and disease infestation. 
Sec. 106. Categorical exclusion to improve, restore, and reduce the risk of wild-
fire. 
Sec. 107. Compliance with forest plan. 
TITLE II—SALVAGE AND REFORESTATION IN RESPONSE TO 
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS 
Sec. 201. Expedited salvage operations and reforestation activities following 
large-scale catastrophic events. 
Sec. 202. Compliance with forest plan. 
Sec. 203. Prohibition on restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, and injunc-
tions pending appeal. 
Sec. 204. Exclusion of certain lands. 
TITLE III—COLLABORATIVE PROJECT LITIGATION REQUIREMENT 
Sec. 301. Definitions. 
Sec. 302. Bond requirement as part of legal challenge of certain forest manage-
ment activities. 
TITLE IV—SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF- 
DETERMINATION ACT AMENDMENTS 
Sec. 401. Use of reserved funds for title II projects on Federal land and certain 
non-Federal land. 
Sec. 402. Resource advisory committees. 
Sec. 403. Program for title II self-sustaining resource advisory committee 
projects. 
Sec. 404. Additional authorized use of reserved funds for title III county 
projects.
Sec. 405. Treatment as supplemental funding. 
TITLE V—STEWARDSHIP END RESULT CONTRACTING 
Sec. 501. Cancellation ceilings for stewardship end result contracting projects. 
Sec. 502. Excess offset value. 
Sec. 503. Payment of portion of stewardship project revenues to county in 
which stewardship project occurs. 
Sec. 504. Submission of existing annual report. 
Sec. 505. Fire liability provision. 
TITLE VI—ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR FOREST 
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 601. Definitions. 
Sec. 602. Availability of stewardship project revenues and Collaborative Forest 
Landscape Restoration Fund to cover forest management activ-
ity planning costs. 
Sec. 603. State-supported planning of forest management activities. 
TITLE VII—TRIBAL FORESTRY PARTICIPATION AND PROTECTION 
Sec. 701. Protection of tribal forest assets through use of stewardship end re-
sult contracting and other authorities. 
Sec. 702. Management of Indian forest land authorized to include related Na-
tional Forest System lands and public lands. 
Sec. 703. Tribal forest management demonstration project. 
TITLE VIII—MISCELLANEOUS FOREST MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS 
Sec. 801. Balancing short- and long-term effects of forest management activi-
ties in considering injunctive relief. 
Sec. 802. Conditions on Forest Service road decommissioning. 
Sec. 803. Prohibition on application of Eastside Screens requirements on Na-
tional Forest System lands. 
Sec. 804. Use of site-specific forest plan amendments for certain projects and 
activities. 
Sec. 805. Knutson-Vandenberg Act modifications. 
Sec. 806. Exclusion of certain National Forest System lands and public lands. 
Sec. 807. Application of Northwest Forest Plan Survey and Manage Mitigation 
Measure Standard and Guidelines. 
Sec. 808. Management of Bureau of Land Management lands in western Or-
egon. 
Sec. 809. Bureau of Land Management resource management plans. 
Sec. 810. Landscape-scale forest restoration project. 
TITLE IX—MAJOR DISASTER FOR WILDFIRE ON FEDERAL LAND 
Sec. 901. Wildfire on Federal lands. 
Sec. 902. Declaration of a major disaster for wildfire on Federal lands. 
Sec. 903. Prohibition on transfers. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In titles I through VIII:
(1) CATASTROPHIC EVENT.—The term ‘‘cata-
strophic event’’ means any natural disaster (such as 
hurricane, tornado, windstorm, snow or ice storm, 
rain storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal 
wave, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, 
mudslide, drought, or insect or disease outbreak) or 
any fire, flood, or explosion, regardless of cause. 
(2) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘cat-
egorical exclusion’’ refers to an exception to the re-
quirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq.) for a project 
or activity relating to the management of National 
Forest System lands or public lands. 
(3) COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.—The term ‘‘col-
laborative process’’ refers to a process relating to the 
management of National Forest System lands or 
public lands by which a project or activity is devel-
oped and implemented by the Secretary concerned 
through collaboration with interested persons, as de-
scribed in section 603(b)(1)(C) of the Healthy For-
ests 
Restoration 
Act 
of 
2003 
(16 
U.S.C. 
6591b(b)(1)(C)). 
(4) 
COMMUNITY
WILDFIRE
PROTECTION 
PLAN.—The term ‘‘community wildfire protection 
plan’’ has the meaning given that term in section
101(3) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511(3)). 
(5) COOS BAY WAGON ROAD GRANT LANDS.— 
The term ‘‘Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands’’ 
means the lands reconveyed to the United States 
pursuant to the first section of the Act of February 
26, 1919 (40 Stat. 1179). 
(6) FOREST
MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITY.—The 
term ‘‘forest management activity’’ means a project 
or activity carried out by the Secretary concerned on 
National Forest System lands or public lands in con-
cert with the forest plan covering the lands. 
(7) 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); or 
(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).
(8) LARGE-SCALE CATASTROPHIC EVENT.—The 
term ‘‘large-scale catastrophic event’’ means a cata-
strophic event that adversely impacts at least 5,000 
acres of reasonably contiguous National Forest Sys-
tem lands or public lands. 
(9) NATIONAL
FOREST
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘National Forest System’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Range-
land Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1609(a)). 
(10) OREGON
AND
CALIFORNIA
RAILROAD 
GRANT LANDS.—The term ‘‘Oregon and California 
Railroad Grant lands’’ means the following lands: 
(A) All lands in the State of Oregon re-
vested in the United States under the Act of 
June 9, 1916 (39 Stat. 218), that are adminis-
tered by the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Bureau of Land Management, pur-
suant to the first section of the Act of August 
28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181a). 
(B) All lands in that State obtained by the 
Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the land 
exchanges authorized and directed by section 2 
of the Act of June 24, 1954 (43 U.S.C. 1181h).
(C) All lands in that State acquired by the 
United States at any time and made subject to 
the provisions of title II of the Act of August 
28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181f). 
(11) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘‘public lands’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 103(e) 
of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702(e)), except that the term in-
cludes Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands and Or-
egon and California Railroad Grant lands. 
(12) REFORESTATION
ACTIVITY.—The term 
‘‘reforestation activity’’ means a project or activity 
carried out by the Secretary concerned whose pri-
mary purpose is the reforestation of impacted lands 
following a large-scale catastrophic event. The term 
includes planting, evaluating and enhancing natural 
regeneration, clearing competing vegetation, and 
other activities related to reestablishment of forest 
species on the fire-impacted lands. 
(13) RESOURCE
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—The 
term ‘‘resource advisory committee’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 201(3) of the Secure 
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination 
Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7121(3)).
(14) SALVAGE OPERATION.—The term ‘‘salvage 
operation’’ means a forest management activity un-
dertaken in response to a catastrophic event whose 
primary purpose— 
(A) is to prevent wildfire as a result of the 
catastrophic event, or, if the catastrophic event 
was wildfire, to prevent a re-burn of the fire-im-
pacted area; 
(B) is to provide an opportunity for utiliza-
tion of forest materials damaged as a result of 
the catastrophic event; or 
(C) is to provide a funding source for re-
forestation and other restoration activities for 
the National Forest System lands or public 
lands impacted by the catastrophic event. 
(15) 
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.
TITLE I—EXPEDITED ENVIRON-
MENTAL 
ANALYSIS 
AND 
AVAILABILITY OF CATEGOR-
ICAL EXCLUSIONS TO EXPE-
DITE FOREST MANAGEMENT 
ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 101. ANALYSIS OF ONLY TWO ALTERNATIVES (ACTION 
VERSUS NO ACTION) IN PROPOSED COLLABO-
RATIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. 
(a) APPLICATION TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL AS-
SESSMENTS
AND
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
STATE-
MENTS.—This section shall apply whenever the Secretary 
concerned prepares an environmental assessment or an en-
vironmental impact statement pursuant to section 102(2) 
of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)) for a forest management activity that— 
(1) is developed through a collaborative process; 
(2) is proposed by a resource advisory com-
mittee; or 
(3) is covered by a community wildfire protec-
tion plan. 
(b) CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES.—In an envi-
ronmental assessment or environmental impact statement 
described in subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall
study, develop, and describe only the following two alter-
natives: 
(1) The forest management activity, as pro-
posed pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of sub-
section (a). 
(2) The alternative of no action. 
(c) ELEMENTS OF NON-ACTION ALTERNATIVE.—In 
the case of the alternative of no action, the Secretary con-
cerned shall evaluate— 
(1) the effect of no action on— 
(A) forest health; 
(B) habitat diversity; 
(C) wildfire potential; and 
(D) insect and disease potential; and 
(2) the implications of a resulting decline in 
forest health, loss of habitat diversity, wildfire, or in-
sect or disease infestation, given fire and insect and 
disease historic cycles, on— 
(A) domestic water costs; 
(B) wildlife habitat loss; and 
(C) other economic and social factors. 
SEC. 102. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION TO EXPEDITE CER-
TAIN CRITICAL RESPONSE ACTIONS. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—A 
categorical exclusion is available to the Secretary con-
cerned to develop and carry out a forest management ac-
tivity on National Forest System lands or public lands 
when the primary purpose of the forest management activ-
ity is— 
(1) to address an insect or disease infestation; 
(2) to reduce hazardous fuel loads; 
(3) to protect a municipal water source; 
(4) to maintain, enhance, or modify critical 
habitat to protect it from catastrophic disturbances; 
(5) to increase water yield; or 
(6) any combination of the purposes specified in 
paragraphs (1) through (5). 
(b) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except in the case of a for-
est management activity described in paragraph (2), 
a forest management activity covered by the categor-
ical exclusion granted by subsection (a) may not 
contain harvest units exceeding a total of 5,000 
acres. 
(2) LARGER
AREAS
AUTHORIZED.—A forest 
management activity covered by the categorical ex-
clusion granted by subsection (a) may not contain 
harvest units exceeding a total of 15,000 acres if the 
forest management activity—
(A) is developed through a collaborative 
process; 
(B) is proposed by a resource advisory 
committee; or 
(C) is covered by a community wildfire 
protection plan. 
SEC. 103. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION TO EXPEDITE SAL-
VAGE OPERATIONS IN RESPONSE TO CATA-
STROPHIC EVENTS. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—A 
categorical exclusion is available to the Secretary con-
cerned to develop and carry out a salvage operation as 
part of the restoration of National Forest System lands 
or public lands following a catastrophic event. 
(b) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A salvage operation covered 
by the categorical exclusion granted by subsection 
(a) may not contain harvest units exceeding a total 
of 5,000 acres. 
(2) HARVEST AREA.—In addition to the limita-
tion imposed by paragraph (1), the harvest units 
covered by the categorical exclusion granted by sub-
section (a) may not exceed one-third of the area im-
pacted by the catastrophic event. 
(c) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) ROAD BUILDING.—A salvage operation cov-
ered by the categorical exclusion granted by sub-
section (a) may not include any new permanent 
roads. Temporary roads constructed as part of the 
salvage operation shall be retired before the end of 
the fifth fiscal year beginning after the completion 
of the salvage operation. 
(2) STREAM
BUFFERS.—A salvage operation 
covered by the categorical exclusion granted by sub-
section (a) shall comply with the standards and 
guidelines for stream buffers contained in the appli-
cable forest plan unless waived by the Regional For-
ester, in the case of National Forest System lands, 
or the State Director of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement, in the case of public lands. 
(3) REFORESTATION
PLAN.—A reforestation 
plan shall be developed under section 3 of the Act 
of June 9, 1930 (commonly known as the Knutson- 
Vandenberg Act; 16 U.S.C. 576b), as part of a sal-
vage operation covered by the categorical exclusion 
granted by subsection (a).
SEC. 104. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION TO MEET FOREST 
PLAN GOALS FOR EARLY SUCCESSIONAL 
FORESTS. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—A 
categorical exclusion is available to the Secretary con-
cerned to develop and carry out a forest management ac-
tivity on National Forest System lands or public lands 
when the primary purpose of the forest management activ-
ity is to modify, improve, enhance, or create early succes-
sional forests for wildlife habitat improvement and other 
purposes, consistent with the applicable forest plan. 
(b) PROJECT GOALS.—To the maximum extent prac-
ticable, the Secretary concerned shall design a forest man-
agement activity under this section to meet early succes-
sional forest goals in such a manner so as to maximize 
production and regeneration of priority species, as identi-
fied in the forest plan and consistent with the capability 
of the activity site. 
(c) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.—A forest management 
activity covered by the categorical exclusion granted by 
subsection (a) may not contain harvest units exceeding a 
total of 5,000 acres.
SEC. 105. CLARIFICATION OF EXISTING CATEGORICAL EX-
CLUSION AUTHORITY RELATED TO INSECT 
AND DISEASE INFESTATION. 
Section 603(c)(2)(B) of the Healthy Forests Restora-
tion Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)(2)(B)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘Fire Regime Groups I, II, or III’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Fire Regime I, Fire Regime II, Fire Regime III, or 
Fire Regime IV’’. 
SEC. 106. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION TO IMPROVE, RE-
STORE, AND REDUCE THE RISK OF WILDFIRE. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.—A 
categorical exclusion is available to the Secretary con-
cerned to carry out a forest management activity described 
in subsection (c) on National Forest System Lands or 
public lands when the primary purpose of the activity is 
to improve, restore, or reduce the risk of wildfire on those 
lands. 
(b) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.—A forest management 
activity covered by the categorical exclusion granted by 
subsection (a) may not exceed 5,000 acres. 
(c) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The following activi-
ties may be carried out using a categorical exclusion 
granted by subsection (a): 
(1) Removal of juniper trees, medusahead rye, 
conifer trees, pin˜on pine trees, cheatgrass, and other 
noxious or invasive weeds specified on Federal or
State noxious weeds lists through late-season live-
stock grazing, targeted livestock grazing, prescribed 
burns, and mechanical treatments. 
(2) Performance of hazardous fuels manage-
ment. 
(3) Creation of fuel and fire breaks. 
(4) Modification of existing fences in order to 
distribute livestock and help improve wildlife habitat. 
(5) Installation of erosion control devices. 
(6) Construction of new and maintenance of 
permanent infrastructure, including stock ponds, 
water catchments, and water spring boxes used to 
benefit livestock and improve wildlife habitat. 
(7) Performance of soil treatments, native and 
non-native seeding, and planting of and trans-
planting sagebrush, grass, forb, shrub, and other 
species. 
(8) Use of herbicides, so long as the Secretary 
concerned determines that the activity is otherwise 
conducted consistently with agency procedures, in-
cluding any forest plan applicable to the area cov-
ered by the activity. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) HAZARDOUS
FUELS
MANAGEMENT.—The 
term ‘‘hazardous fuels management’’ means any
vegetation management activities that reduce the 
risk of wildfire. 
(2) LATE-SEASON GRAZING.—The term ‘‘late- 
season grazing’’ means grazing activities that occur 
after both the invasive species and native perennial 
species have completed their current-year annual 
growth cycle until new plant growth begins to ap-
pear in the following year. 
(3) 
TARGETED
LIVESTOCK
GRAZING.—The 
term ‘‘targeted livestock grazing’’ means grazing 
used for purposes of hazardous fuel reduction. 
SEC. 107. COMPLIANCE WITH FOREST PLAN. 
A forest management activity covered by a categorical 
exclusion granted by this title shall be conducted in a man-
ner consistent with the forest plan applicable to the Na-
tional Forest System land or public lands covered by the 
forest management activity. 
TITLE II—SALVAGE AND REFOR-
ESTATION IN RESPONSE TO 
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS 
SEC. 201. EXPEDITED SALVAGE OPERATIONS AND REFOR-
ESTATION ACTIVITIES FOLLOWING LARGE- 
SCALE CATASTROPHIC EVENTS. 
(a) EXPEDITED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any environ-
mental assessment prepared by the Secretary concerned 
pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)) for a salvage oper-
ation or reforestation activity proposed to be conducted 
on National Forest System lands or public lands adversely 
impacted by a large-scale catastrophic event shall be com-
pleted within 3 months after the conclusion of the cata-
strophic event. 
(b) EXPEDITED IMPLEMENTATION
AND COMPLE-
TION.—In the case of reforestation activities conducted on 
National Forest System lands or public lands adversely 
impacted by a large-scale catastrophic event, the Secretary 
concerned shall achieve reforestation of at least 75 percent 
of the impacted lands during the 5-year period following 
the conclusion of the catastrophic event. 
(c) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
KNUTSON-VANDENBERG 
FUNDS.—Amounts in the special fund established pursu-
ant to section 3 of the Act of June 9, 1930 (commonly 
known as the Knutson-Vandenberg Act; 16 U.S.C. 576b) 
shall be available to the Secretary of Agriculture for refor-
estation activities authorized by this title. 
(d) TIMELINE FOR PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a 
salvage operation or reforestation activity proposed to be 
conducted on National Forest System lands or public
lands adversely impacted by a large-scale catastrophic 
event, the Secretary concerned shall allow 30 days for pub-
lic scoping and comment, 15 days for filing an objection, 
and 15 days for the agency response to the filing of an 
objection. Upon completion of this process and expiration 
of the period specified in subsection (a), the Secretary con-
cerned shall implement the project immediately. 
SEC. 202. COMPLIANCE WITH FOREST PLAN. 
A salvage operation or reforestation activity author-
ized by this title shall be conducted in a manner consistent 
with the forest plan applicable to the National Forest Sys-
tem lands or public lands covered by the salvage operation 
or reforestation activity. 
SEC. 203. PROHIBITION ON RESTRAINING ORDERS, PRE-
LIMINARY INJUNCTIONS, AND INJUNCTIONS 
PENDING APPEAL. 
No restraining order, preliminary injunction, or in-
junction pending appeal shall be issued by any court of 
the United States with respect to any decision to prepare 
or conduct a salvage operation or reforestation activity in 
response to a large-scale catastrophic event. Section 705 
of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to any chal-
lenge to the salvage operation or reforestation activity.
SEC. 204. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN LANDS. 
In applying this title, the Secretary concerned may 
not carry out salvage operations or reforestation activities 
on National Forest System lands or public lands— 
(1) that are included in the National Wilderness 
Preservation System; 
(2) that are located within an inventoried 
roadless area unless the reforestation activity is con-
sistent with the forest plan; or 
(3) on which timber harvesting for any purpose 
is prohibited by statute. 
TITLE 
III—COLLABORATIVE 
PROJECT 
LITIGATION 
RE-
QUIREMENT 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) COSTS.—The term ‘‘costs’’ refers to the 
fees and costs described in section 1920 of title 28, 
United States Code. 
(2) EXPENSES.—The term ‘‘expenses’’ includes 
the expenditures incurred by the staff of the Sec-
retary concerned in preparing for and responding to 
a legal challenge to a collaborative forest manage-
ment activity and in participating in litigation that 
challenges the forest management activity, including 
such staff time as may be used to prepare the ad-
ministrative record, exhibits, declarations, and affi-
davits in connection with the litigation. 
SEC. 302. BOND REQUIREMENT AS PART OF LEGAL CHAL-
LENGE OF CERTAIN FOREST MANAGEMENT 
ACTIVITIES. 
(a) BOND REQUIRED.—In the case of a forest man-
agement activity developed through a collaborative process 
or proposed by a resource advisory committee, any plain-
tiff or plaintiffs challenging the forest management activ-
ity shall be required to post a bond or other security equal 
to the anticipated costs, expenses, and attorneys fees of 
the Secretary concerned as defendant, as reasonably esti-
mated by the Secretary concerned. All proceedings in the 
action shall be stayed until the required bond or security 
is provided. 
(b) RECOVERY OF LITIGATION COSTS, EXPENSES, 
AND ATTORNEYS FEES.— 
(1) MOTION FOR PAYMENT.—If the Secretary 
concerned prevails in an action challenging a forest 
management activity described in subsection (a), the 
Secretary concerned shall submit to the court a mo-
tion for payment, from the bond or other security 
posted under subsection (a) in such action, of the 
reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys fees in-
curred by the Secretary concerned.
(2) 
MAXIMUM
AMOUNT
RECOVERED.—The 
amount of costs, expenses, and attorneys fees recov-
ered by the Secretary concerned under paragraph 
(1) as a result of prevailing in an action challenging 
the forest management activity may not exceed the 
amount of the bond or other security posted under 
subsection (a) in such action. 
(3) RETURN OF REMAINDER.—Any funds re-
maining from the bond or other security posted 
under subsection (a) after the payment of costs, ex-
penses, and attorneys fees under paragraph (1) shall 
be returned to the plaintiff or plaintiffs that posted 
the bond or security in the action. 
(c) RETURN OF BOND TO PREVAILING PLAINTIFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—If the plaintiff ultimately 
prevails on the merits in every action brought by the 
plaintiff challenging a forest management activity 
described in subsection (a), the court shall return to 
the plaintiff any bond or security provided by the 
plaintiff under subsection (a), plus interest from the 
date the bond or security was provided. 
(2) ULTIMATELY PREVAILS ON THE MERITS.— 
In this subsection, the phrase ‘‘ultimately prevails on 
the merits’’ means, in a final enforceable judgment 
on the merits, a court rules in favor of the plaintiff
on every cause of action in every action brought by 
the plaintiff challenging the forest management ac-
tivity. 
(d) EFFECT OF SETTLEMENT.—If a challenge to a 
forest management activity described in subsection (a) for 
which a bond or other security was provided by the plain-
tiff under such subsection is resolved by settlement be-
tween the Secretary concerned and the plaintiff, the settle-
ment agreement shall provide for sharing the costs, ex-
penses, and attorneys fees incurred by the parties. 
(e) LIMITATION ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS.—Notwith-
standing section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, no 
award may be made under section 2412 of title 28, United 
States Code, and no amounts may be obligated or ex-
pended from the Claims and Judgment Fund of the 
United States Treasury to pay any fees or other expenses 
under such sections to any plaintiff related to an action 
challenging a forest management activity described in sub-
section (a).
TITLE 
IV—SECURE 
RURAL 
SCHOOLS 
AND 
COMMUNITY 
SELF-DETERMINATION 
ACT 
AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 401. USE OF RESERVED FUNDS FOR TITLE II 
PROJECTS ON FEDERAL LAND AND CERTAIN 
NON-FEDERAL LAND. 
(a) REPEAL
OF
MERCHANTABLE
TIMBER
CON-
TRACTING PILOT PROGRAM.—Section 204(e) of the Se-
cure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination 
Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7124(e)) is amended by striking 
paragraph (3). 
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR PROJECT FUNDS.—Section 
204 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-De-
termination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7124) is amended by 
striking subsection (f) and inserting the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(f) REQUIREMENTS FOR PROJECT FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary concerned shall ensure that at least 50 
percent of the project funds reserved by a partici-
pating county under section 102(d) shall be available 
only for projects that—
‘‘(A) include the sale of timber or other 
forest products, reduce fire risks, or improve 
water supplies; and 
‘‘(B) implement stewardship objectives 
that enhance forest ecosystems or restore and 
improve land health and water quality. 
‘‘(2) 
APPLICABILITY.—The 
requirement 
in 
paragraph (1) shall apply only to project funds re-
served by a participating county whose boundaries 
include Federal land that the Secretary concerned 
determines has been subject to a timber or other for-
est products program within 5 fiscal years before the 
fiscal year in which the funds are reserved.’’. 
SEC. 402. RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
(a) RECOGNITION OF RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMIT-
TEES.—Section 205(a)(4) of the Secure Rural Schools 
and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 
U.S.C. 7125(a)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘2020’’. 
(b) TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN COMPOSITION OF 
COMMITTEES.—Section 205(d) of the Secure Rural 
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 
(16 U.S.C. 7125(d)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Each’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Except during the period specified in 
paragraph (6), each’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) TEMPORARY
REDUCTION
IN
MINIMUM 
NUMBER OF MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) TEMPORARY
REDUCTION.—During 
the period beginning on the date of the enact-
ment of this paragraph and ending on Sep-
tember 30, 2020, a resource advisory committee 
established under this section may be comprised 
of nine or more members, of which— 
‘‘(i) at least three shall be representa-
tive of interests described in subparagraph 
(A) of paragraph (2); 
‘‘(ii) at least three shall be representa-
tive of interests described in subparagraph 
(B) of paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(iii) at least three shall be represent-
ative of interests described in subpara-
graph (C) of paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) 
ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—In 
appointing members of a resource advisory com-
mittee from the three categories described in
paragraph (2), as provided in subparagraph 
(A), the Secretary concerned shall ensure bal-
anced and broad representation in each cat-
egory. In the case of a vacancy on a resource 
advisory committee, the vacancy shall be filled 
within 90 days after the date on which the va-
cancy occurred. Appointments to a new re-
source advisory committee shall be made within 
90 days after the date on which the decision to 
form the new resource advisory committee was 
made. 
‘‘(C) CHARTER.—A charter for a resource 
advisory committee with 15 members that was 
filed on or before the date of the enactment of 
this paragraph shall be considered to be filed 
for a resource advisory committee described in 
this paragraph. The charter of a resource advi-
sory committee shall be reapproved before the 
expiration of the existing charter of the re-
source advisory committee. In the case of a new 
resource advisory committee, the charter of the 
resource advisory committee shall be approved 
within 90 days after the date on which the deci-
sion to form the new resource advisory com-
mittee was made.’’.
(c) CONFORMING CHANGE TO PROJECT APPROVAL 
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 205(e)(3) of the Secure Rural 
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 
(16 U.S.C. 7125(e)(3)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ‘‘In the case of a resource ad-
visory committee consisting of fewer than 15 members, as 
authorized by subsection (d)(6), a project may be proposed 
to the Secretary concerned upon approval by a majority 
of the members of the committee, including at least one 
member from each of the three categories described in 
subsection (d)(2).’’. 
(d) EXPANDING LOCAL PARTICIPATION ON COMMIT-
TEES.—Section 205(d) of the Secure Rural Schools and 
Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
7125(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting before the pe-
riod at the end the following: ‘‘, consistent with the 
requirements of paragraph (4)’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—The mem-
bers of a resource advisory committee shall reside 
within the county or counties in which the committee 
has jurisdiction or an adjacent county.’’.
SEC. 403. PROGRAM FOR TITLE II SELF-SUSTAINING RE-
SOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROJECTS. 
(a) SELF-SUSTAINING RESOURCE ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE PROJECTS.—Title II of the Secure Rural Schools 
and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 
U.S.C. 7121 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 209. PROGRAM FOR SELF-SUSTAINING RESOURCE AD-
VISORY COMMITTEE PROJECTS. 
‘‘(a) RAC PROGRAM.—The Chief of the Forest Serv-
ice shall conduct a program (to be known as the ‘self-sus-
taining resource advisory committee program’ or ‘RAC 
program’) under which 10 resource advisory committees 
will propose projects authorized by subsection (c) to be 
carried out using project funds reserved by a participating 
county under section 102(d). 
‘‘(b) SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING RESOURCE AD-
VISORY COMMITTEES.—The selection of resource advisory 
committees to participate in the RAC program is in the 
sole discretion of the Chief of the Forest Service, except 
that, consistent with section 205(d)(6), a selected resource 
advisory committee must have a minimum of six members. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZED PROJECTS.—Notwithstanding the 
project purposes specified in sections 202(b), 203(c), and 
204(a)(5), projects under the RAC program are intended 
to—
‘‘(1) accomplish forest management objectives 
or support community development; and 
‘‘(2) generate receipts. 
‘‘(d) DEPOSIT AND AVAILABILITY OF REVENUES.— 
Any revenue generated by a project conducted under the 
RAC program, including any interest accrued from the 
revenues, shall be— 
‘‘(1) deposited in the special account in the 
Treasury established under section 102(d)(2)(A); 
and 
‘‘(2) available, in such amounts as may be pro-
vided in advance in appropriation Acts, for addi-
tional projects under the RAC program. 
‘‘(e) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The authority to initiate a 
project under the RAC program shall terminate on 
September 30, 2020. 
‘‘(2) DEPOSITS
IN
TREASURY.—Any funds 
available for projects under the RAC program and 
not obligated by September 30, 2021, shall be depos-
ited in the Treasury of the United States.’’. 
(b) EXCEPTION
TO GENERAL RULE REGARDING 
TREATMENT OF RECEIPTS.—Section 403(b) of the Secure 
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 
2000 (16 U.S.C. 7153(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘All rev-
enues’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in section 209, 
all revenues’’. 
SEC. 404. ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZED USE OF RESERVED 
FUNDS FOR TITLE III COUNTY PROJECTS. 
Section 302(a) of the Secure Rural Schools and Com-
munity Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 
7142(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and law enforcement pa-
trols’’ after ‘‘including firefighting’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para-
graph (4); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (3): 
‘‘(3) to cover training costs and equipment pur-
chases directly related to the emergency services de-
scribed in paragraph (2); and’’. 
SEC. 405. TREATMENT AS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING. 
Section 102 of the Secure Rural Schools and Commu-
nity Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7112) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(f) TREATMENT AS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.— 
None of the funds made available to a beneficiary county
or other political subdivision of a State under this Act 
shall be used in lieu of or to otherwise offset State funding 
sources for local schools, facilities, or educational pur-
poses.’’. 
TITLE V—STEWARDSHIP END 
RESULT CONTRACTING 
SEC. 501. CANCELLATION CEILINGS FOR STEWARDSHIP 
END RESULT CONTRACTING PROJECTS. 
(a) CANCELLATION CEILINGS.—Section 604 of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6591c) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as 
subsections (i) and (j), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing new subsection (h): 
‘‘(h) CANCELLATION CEILINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief and the Director 
may obligate funds to cover any potential cancella-
tion or termination costs for an agreement or con-
tract under subsection (b) in stages that are eco-
nomically or programmatically viable. 
‘‘(2) ADVANCE NOTICE TO CONGRESS OF CAN-
CELLATION CEILING IN EXCESS OF $25 MILLION.— 
Not later than 30 days before entering into a 
multiyear agreement or contract under subsection
(b) that includes a cancellation ceiling in excess of 
$25 million, but does not include proposed funding 
for the costs of cancelling the agreement or contract 
up to such cancellation ceiling, the Chief or the Di-
rector, as the case may be, shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Re-
sources and the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives a written notice that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) the cancellation ceiling amounts pro-
posed for each program year in the agreement 
or contract; 
‘‘(B) the reasons why such cancellation 
ceiling amounts were selected; 
‘‘(C) the extent to which the costs of con-
tract cancellation are not included in the budget 
for the agreement or contract; and 
‘‘(D) an assessment of the financial risk of 
not including budgeting for the costs of agree-
ment or contract cancellation. 
‘‘(3) TRANSMITTAL OF NOTICE TO OMB.—Not 
later than 14 days after the date on which written 
notice is provided under paragraph (2) with respect
to an agreement or contract under subsection (b), 
the Chief or the Director, as the case may be, shall 
transmit a copy of the notice to the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget.’’. 
(b) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.—Section 604(d)(5) 
of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 
U.S.C. 6591c(d)(5)) is amended by striking ‘‘, the Chief 
may’’ and inserting ‘‘and section 2(a)(1) of the Act of July 
31, 1947 (commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947; 
30 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)), the Chief and the Director may’’. 
SEC. 502. EXCESS OFFSET VALUE. 
Section 604(g)(2) of the Healthy Forests Restoration 
Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(g)(2)) is amended by strik-
ing subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following 
new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(A) use the excess to satisfy any out-
standing liabilities for cancelled agreements or 
contracts; or 
‘‘(B) if there are no outstanding liabilities 
under subparagraph (A), apply the excess to 
other authorized stewardship projects.’’.
SEC. 
503. 
PAYMENT 
OF 
PORTION 
OF 
STEWARDSHIP 
PROJECT REVENUES TO COUNTY IN WHICH 
STEWARDSHIP PROJECT OCCURS. 
Section 604(e) of the Healthy Forests Restoration 
Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ‘‘subject 
to paragraph (3)(A),’’ before ‘‘shall’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘services 
received by the Chief or the Director’’ and all that 
follows through the period at the end and inserting 
the following: ‘‘services and in-kind resources re-
ceived by the Chief or the Director under a steward-
ship contract project conducted under this section 
shall not be considered monies received from the Na-
tional Forest System or the public lands, but any 
payments made by the contractor to the Chief or Di-
rector under the project shall be considered monies 
received from the National Forest System or the 
public lands.’’. 
SEC. 504. SUBMISSION OF EXISTING ANNUAL REPORT. 
Subsection (j) of section 604 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c), as redesig-
nated by section 501(a)(1), is amended by striking ‘‘report 
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives’’ and inserting ‘‘submit to the
congressional committees specified in subsection (h)(2) a 
report’’. 
SEC. 505. FIRE LIABILITY PROVISION. 
Section 604(d) of the Healthy Forests Restoration 
Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(d)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(8) MODIFICATION.—Upon the request of the 
contractor, a contract or agreement under this sec-
tion awarded before February 7, 2014, shall be 
modified by the Chief or Director to include the fire 
liability provisions described in paragraph (7).’’. 
TITLE 
VI—ADDITIONAL 
FUND-
ING SOURCES FOR FOREST 
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 601. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a State or political subdivision of a 
State containing National Forest System lands 
or public lands; 
(B) a publicly chartered utility serving one 
or more States or a political subdivision thereof; 
(C) a rural electric company; and
(D) any other entity determined by the 
Secretary concerned to be appropriate for par-
ticipation in the Fund. 
(2) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the 
State-Supported Forest Management Fund estab-
lished by section 603. 
SEC. 602. AVAILABILITY OF STEWARDSHIP PROJECT REVE-
NUES AND COLLABORATIVE FOREST LAND-
SCAPE RESTORATION FUND TO COVER FOR-
EST 
MANAGEMENT 
ACTIVITY 
PLANNING 
COSTS. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF STEWARDSHIP PROJECT REVE-
NUES.—Section 604(e)(2)(B) of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(e)(2)(B)), as 
amended by section 503, is further amended by striking 
‘‘appropriation at the project site from which the monies 
are collected or at another project site.’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘appropriation— 
‘‘(i) at the project site from which the 
monies are collected or at another project 
site; and 
‘‘(ii) to cover not more than 25 per-
cent of the cost of planning additional 
stewardship contracting projects.’’.
(b) AVAILABILITY
OF
COLLABORATIVE
FOREST 
LANDSCAPE RESTORATION FUND.—Section 4003(f)(1) of 
the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 
U.S.C. 7303(f)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘carrying out 
and’’ and inserting ‘‘planning, carrying out, and’’. 
SEC. 603. STATE-SUPPORTED PLANNING OF FOREST MAN-
AGEMENT ACTIVITIES. 
(a) 
STATE-SUPPORTED
FOREST
MANAGEMENT 
FUND.—There is established in the Treasury of the 
United States a fund, to be known as the ‘‘State-Sup-
ported Forest Management Fund’’, to cover the cost of 
planning (especially related to compliance with section 
102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4332(2))), carrying out, and monitoring cer-
tain forest management activities on National Forest Sys-
tem lands or public lands. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The State-Supported Forest Man-
agement Fund shall consist of such amounts as may be— 
(1) contributed by an eligible entity for deposit 
in the Fund; 
(2) appropriated to the Fund; or 
(3) generated by forest management activities 
carried out using amounts in the Fund.
(c) GEOGRAPHICAL
AND
USE
LIMITATIONS.—In 
making a contribution under subsection (b)(1), an eligible 
entity may— 
(1) specify the National Forest System lands or 
public lands for which the contribution may be ex-
pended; and 
(2) limit the types of forest management activi-
ties for which the contribution may be expended. 
(d) AUTHORIZED FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVI-
TIES.—In such amounts as may be provided in advance 
in appropriation Acts, the Secretary concerned may use 
the Fund to plan, carry out, and monitor a forest manage-
ment activity that— 
(1) is developed through a collaborative process; 
(2) is proposed by a resource advisory com-
mittee; or 
(3) is covered by a community wildfire protec-
tion plan. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION METHODS.—A forest manage-
ment activity carried out using amounts in the Fund may 
be carried out using a contract or agreement under section 
604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 
U.S.C. 6591c), the good neighbor authority provided by 
section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 
2113a), a contract under section 14 of the National Forest
Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a), or other au-
thority available to the Secretary concerned, but revenues 
generated by the forest management activity shall be used 
to reimburse the Fund for planning costs covered using 
amounts in the Fund. 
(f) RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.— 
(1) REVENUE SHARING.—Subject to subsection 
(e), revenues generated by a forest management ac-
tivity carried out using amounts from the Fund shall 
be considered monies received from the National 
Forest System. 
(2) KNUTSON-VANDERBERG ACT.—The Act of 
June 9, 1930 (commonly known as the Knutson- 
Vanderberg Act; 16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.), shall apply 
to any forest management activity carried out using 
amounts in the Fund. 
(g) TERMINATION OF FUND.— 
(1) TERMINATION.—The Fund shall terminate 
10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) EFFECT OF TERMINATION.—Upon the ter-
mination of the Fund pursuant to paragraph (1) or 
pursuant to any other provision of law, unobligated 
contributions remaining in the Fund shall be re-
turned to the eligible entity that made the contribu-
tion.
TITLE 
VII—TRIBAL 
FORESTRY 
PARTICIPATION 
AND 
PRO-
TECTION 
SEC. 
701. 
PROTECTION 
OF 
TRIBAL 
FOREST 
ASSETS 
THROUGH USE OF STEWARDSHIP END RE-
SULT CONTRACTING AND OTHER AUTHORI-
TIES. 
(a) PROMPT
CONSIDERATION
OF
TRIBAL
RE-
QUESTS.—Section 2(b) of the Tribal Forest Protection 
Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Not later 
than 120 days after the date on which an Indian 
tribe submits to the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘In re-
sponse to the submission by an Indian tribe of’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) TIME PERIODS FOR CONSIDERATION.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL RESPONSE.—Not later than 
120 days after the date on which the Secretary 
receives a tribal request under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall provide an initial response 
to the Indian tribe regarding— 
‘‘(i) whether the request may meet the 
selection criteria described in subsection 
(c); and
‘‘(ii) the likelihood of the Secretary 
entering into an agreement or contract 
with the Indian tribe under paragraph (2) 
for activities described in paragraph (3). 
‘‘(B) NOTICE OF DENIAL.—Notice under 
subsection (d) of the denial of a tribal request 
under paragraph (1) shall be provided not later 
than 1 year after the date on which the Sec-
retary received the request. 
‘‘(C) COMPLETION.—Not later than 2 
years after the date on which the Secretary re-
ceives a tribal request under paragraph (1), 
other than a tribal request denied under sub-
section (d), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) complete all environmental re-
views necessary in connection with the 
agreement or contract and proposed activi-
ties under the agreement or contract; and 
‘‘(ii) enter into the agreement or con-
tract with the Indian tribe under para-
graph (2).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
Section 2 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 
U.S.C. 3115a) is amended—
(1) in subsections (b)(1) and (f)(1), by striking 
‘‘section 347 of the Department of the Interior and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 (16 
U.S.C. 2104 note; Public Law 105–277) (as amend-
ed by section 323 of the Department of the Interior 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2003 (117 
Stat. 275))’’ and inserting ‘‘section 604 of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6591c)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)(1), the Secretary may’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graphs (1) and (4)(B) of subsection (b), the Sec-
retary shall’’. 
SEC. 702. MANAGEMENT OF INDIAN FOREST LAND AUTHOR-
IZED TO INCLUDE RELATED NATIONAL FOR-
EST SYSTEM LANDS AND PUBLIC LANDS. 
Section 305 of the National Indian Forest Resources 
Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3104) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) INCLUSION
OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST 
SYSTEM LAND AND PUBLIC LAND.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—At the request of an Indian 
tribe, the Secretary concerned may treat Federal 
forest land as Indian forest land for purposes of 
planning and conducting forest land management
‘‘(ii) at the option of the Indian tribe, 
on terms agreed upon by the Indian tribe, 
the Secretary concerned, and State and 
county governments participating in a rev-
enue sharing agreement for the Federal 
forest land; 
‘‘(C) comply with applicable prohibitions 
on the export of unprocessed logs harvested 
from the Federal forest land; 
‘‘(D) recognize all right-of-way agreements 
in place on Federal forest land prior to com-
mencement of tribal management activities; and 
‘‘(E) ensure that all commercial timber re-
moved from the Federal forest land is sold on 
a competitive bid basis. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—Treating Federal forest 
land as Indian forest land for purposes of planning 
and conducting management activities pursuant to 
paragraph (1) shall not be construed to designate 
the Federal forest land as Indian forest lands for 
any other purpose. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) FEDERAL FOREST LAND.—The term 
‘Federal forest land’ means—
‘‘(i) National Forest System lands; 
and 
‘‘(ii) public lands (as defined in sec-
tion 103(e) of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1702(e))), including Coos Bay Wagon 
Road Grant lands reconveyed to the 
United States pursuant to the first section 
of the Act of February 26, 1919 (40 Stat. 
1179), and Oregon and California Railroad 
Grant lands. 
‘‘(B) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term 
‘Secretary concerned’ means— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of Agriculture, with 
respect to the Federal forest land referred 
to in subparagraph (A)(i); and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary of the Interior, 
with respect to the Federal forest land re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A)(ii).’’. 
SEC. 703. TRIBAL FOREST MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECT. 
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Agriculture may carry out demonstration projects by 
which federally recognized Indian tribes or tribal organiza-
tions may contract to perform administrative, manage-
ment, and other functions of programs of the Tribal For-
est Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a et seq.) 
through contracts entered into under the Indian Self-De-
termination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 
et seq.). 
TITLE 
VIII—MISCELLANEOUS 
FOREST MANAGEMENT PRO-
VISIONS 
SEC. 801. BALANCING SHORT- AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS 
OF FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN 
CONSIDERING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. 
As part of its weighing the equities while considering 
any request for an injunction that applies to any agency 
action as part of a forest management activity under titles 
I through VIII, the court reviewing the agency action shall 
balance the impact to the ecosystem likely affected by the 
forest management activity of— 
(1) the short- and long-term effects of under-
taking the agency action; against 
(2) the short- and long-term effects of not un-
dertaking the action. 
SEC. 802. CONDITIONS ON FOREST SERVICE ROAD DECOM-
MISSIONING. 
(a) CONSULTATION WITH AFFECTED COUNTY.— 
Whenever any Forest Service defined maintenance level
one- or two-system road within a designated high fire 
prone area of a unit of the National Forest System is con-
sidered for decommissioning, the Forest Supervisor of that 
unit of the National Forest System shall— 
(1) consult with the government of the county 
containing the road regarding the merits and pos-
sible consequences of decommissioning the road; and 
(2) solicit possible alternatives to decommis-
sioning the road. 
(b) REGIONAL FORESTER APPROVAL.—A Forest 
Service road described in subsection (a) may not be de-
commissioned without the advance approval of the Re-
gional Forester. 
SEC. 803. PROHIBITION ON APPLICATION OF EASTSIDE 
SCREENS 
REQUIREMENTS 
ON 
NATIONAL 
FOREST SYSTEM LANDS. 
On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Agriculture may not apply to National 
Forest System lands any of the amendments to forest 
plans adopted in the Decision Notice for the Revised Con-
tinuation of Interim Management Direction Establishing 
Riparian, Ecosystem and Wildlife Standards for Timber 
Sales (commonly known as the Eastside Screens require-
ments), including all preceding or associated versions of 
these amendments.
SEC. 804. USE OF SITE-SPECIFIC FOREST PLAN AMEND-
MENTS FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS AND ACTIVI-
TIES. 
If the Secretary concerned determines that, in order 
to conduct a project or carry out an activity implementing 
a forest plan, an amendment to the forest plan is required, 
the Secretary concerned shall execute such amendment as 
a nonsignificant plan amendment through the record of 
decision or decision notice for the project or activity. 
SEC. 805. KNUTSON-VANDENBERG ACT MODIFICATIONS. 
(a) DEPOSITS OF FUNDS FROM NATIONAL FOREST 
TIMBER PURCHASERS REQUIRED.—Section 3(a) of the 
Act of June 9, 1930 (commonly known as the Knutson- 
Vandenberg Act; 16 U.S.C. 576b(a)), is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘The Secretary’’ and all that follows through ‘‘any 
purchaser’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall require each purchaser’’. 
(b) CONDITIONS ON USE OF DEPOSITS.—Section 3 
of the Act of June 9, 1930 (commonly known as the 
Knutson-Vandenberg Act; 16 U.S.C. 576b), is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Such deposits’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(b) Amounts deposited under subsection (a)’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and
(3) by inserting before subsection (d), as so re-
designated, the following new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c)(1) Amounts in the special fund established pur-
suant to this section— 
‘‘(A) shall be used exclusively to implement ac-
tivities authorized by subsection (a); and 
‘‘(B) may be used anywhere within the Forest 
Service Region from which the original deposits were 
collected. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Agriculture may not deduct 
overhead costs from the funds collected under subsection 
(a), except as needed to fund personnel of the responsible 
Ranger District for the planning and implementation of 
the activities authorized by subsection (a).’’. 
SEC. 806. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN NATIONAL FOREST SYS-
TEM LANDS AND PUBLIC LANDS. 
Unless specifically provided by a provision of titles 
I through VIII, the authorities provided by such titles do 
not apply with respect to any National Forest System 
lands or public lands— 
(1) that are included in the National Wilderness 
Preservation System; 
(2) that are located within an inventoried 
roadless area unless the forest management activity
to be carried out under such authority is consistent 
with the forest plan applicable to the area; or 
(3) on which timber harvesting for any purpose 
is prohibited by statute. 
SEC. 807. APPLICATION OF NORTHWEST FOREST PLAN SUR-
VEY AND MANAGE MITIGATION MEASURE 
STANDARD AND GUIDELINES. 
The Northwest Forest Plan Survey and Manage Miti-
gation Measure Standard and Guidelines shall not apply 
to any National Forest System lands or public lands. 
SEC. 808. MANAGEMENT OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGE-
MENT LANDS IN WESTERN OREGON. 
(a) GENERAL RULE.—All of the public land managed 
by the Bureau of Land Management in the Salem District, 
Eugene District, Roseburg District, Coos Bay District, 
Medford District, and the Klamath Resource Area of the 
Lakeview District in the State of Oregon shall hereafter 
be managed pursuant to title I of the of the Act of August 
28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181a through 1181e). Except as 
provided in subsection (b), all of the revenue produced 
from such land shall be deposited in the Treasury of the 
United States in the Oregon and California land-grant 
fund and be subject to the provisions of title II of the 
Act of August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181f).
(b) CERTAIN LANDS EXCLUDED.—Subsection (a) 
does not apply to any revenue that is required to be depos-
ited in the Coos Bay Wagon Road grant fund pursuant 
to sections 1 through 4 of the Act of May 24, 1939 (43 
U.S.C. 1181f–1 through f–4). 
SEC. 809. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT RESOURCE 
MANAGEMENT PLANS. 
(a) ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS AND ALTERNATIVES.—To 
develop a full range of reasonable alternatives as required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
Secretary of the Interior shall develop and consider in de-
tail a reference analysis and two additional alternatives 
as part of the revisions of the resource management plans 
for the Bureau of Land Management’s Salem, Eugene, 
Coos Bay, Roseburg, and Medford Districts and the Klam-
ath Resource Area of the Lakeview District. 
(b) REFERENCE ANALYSIS.—The reference analysis 
required by subsection (a) shall measure and assume the 
harvest of the annual growth net of natural mortality for 
all forested land in the planning area in order to determine 
the maximum sustained yield capacity of the forested land 
base and to establish a baseline by which the Secretary 
of the Interior shall measure incremental effects on the 
sustained yield capacity and environmental impacts from 
management prescriptions in all other alternatives.
(c) ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVES.— 
(1) CARBON SEQUESTRATION ALTERNATIVE.— 
The Secretary of the Interior shall develop and con-
sider an additional alternative with the goal of maxi-
mizing the total carbon benefits from forest storage 
and wood product storage. To the extent practicable, 
the analysis shall consider— 
(A) the future risks to forest carbon from 
wildfires, insects, and disease; 
(B) the amount of carbon stored in prod-
ucts or in landfills; 
(C) the life cycle benefits of harvested 
wood products compared to non-renewable 
products; and 
(D) the energy produced from wood resi-
dues. 
(2) SUSTAINED
YIELD
ALTERNATIVE.—The 
Secretary of the Interior shall develop and consider 
an additional alternative that produces the greater 
of 500 million board feet or the annual net growth 
on the acres classified as timberland, excluding any 
congressionally reserved areas. The projected harvest 
levels, as nearly as practicable, shall be distributed 
among the Districts referred to in subsection (a) in 
the same proportion as the maximum yield capacity
of each such District bears to maximum yield capac-
ity of the planning area as a whole. 
(d) ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPA-
TION.—The Secretary of the Interior shall publish the ref-
erence analysis and additional alternatives and analyze 
their environmental and economic consequences in a sup-
plemental draft environmental impact statement. The 
draft environmental impact statement and supplemental 
draft environmental impact statement shall be made avail-
able for public comment for a period of not less than 180 
days. The Secretary shall respond to any comments re-
ceived before making a final decision between all alter-
natives. 
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall affect the obligation of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior to manage the timberlands as required by the Act of 
August 28, 1937 (50 Stat. 874; 43 U.S.C. 1181a–1181j). 
SEC. 
810. 
LANDSCAPE-SCALE 
FOREST 
RESTORATION 
PROJECT. 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall develop and imple-
ment at least one landscape-scale forest restoration project 
that includes, as a defined purpose of the project, the gen-
eration of material that will be used to promote advanced 
wood products. The project shall be developed through a 
collaborative process.
TITLE IX—MAJOR DISASTER FOR 
WILDFIRE ON FEDERAL LAND 
SEC. 901. WILDFIRE ON FEDERAL LANDS. 
Section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(2)’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘means’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) MAJOR DISASTER.— 
‘‘(A) MAJOR DISASTER.—The term ‘major 
disaster’ means’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) MAJOR DISASTER FOR WILDFIRE ON 
FEDERAL
LANDS.—The term ‘major disaster 
for wildfire on Federal lands’ means any wild-
fire or wildfires, which in the determination of 
the President under section 802 warrants as-
sistance under section 803 to supplement the 
efforts and resources of the Department of the 
Interior or the Department of Agriculture— 
‘‘(i) on Federal lands; or 
‘‘(ii) on non-Federal lands pursuant 
to a fire protection agreement or coopera-
tive agreement.’’.
SEC. 902. DECLARATION OF A MAJOR DISASTER FOR WILD-
FIRE ON FEDERAL LANDS. 
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘TITLE VIII—MAJOR DISASTER 
FOR WILDFIRE ON FEDERAL 
LAND 
‘‘SEC. 801. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘As used in this title— 
‘‘(1) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘Federal land’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) any land under the jurisdiction of the 
Department of the Interior; and 
‘‘(B) any land under the jurisdiction of the 
United States Forest Service. 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL
LAND
MANAGEMENT
AGEN-
CIES.—The term ‘Federal land management agen-
cies’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Bureau of Land Management; 
‘‘(B) the National Park Service; 
‘‘(C) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 
‘‘(D) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service; and 
‘‘(E) the United States Forest Service.
‘‘(3) WILDFIRE
SUPPRESSION
OPERATIONS.— 
The term ‘wildfire suppression operations’ means the 
emergency and unpredictable aspects of wildland 
firefighting, including support, response, emergency 
stabilization activities, and other emergency manage-
ment activities of wildland firefighting on Federal 
lands (or on non-Federal lands pursuant to a fire 
protection agreement or cooperative agreement) by 
the Federal land management agencies covered by 
the wildfire suppression subactivity of the Wildland 
Fire Management account or the FLAME Wildfire 
Suppression Reserve Fund account of the Federal 
land management agencies. 
‘‘SEC. 802. PROCEDURE FOR DECLARATION OF A MAJOR 
DISASTER 
FOR 
WILDFIRE 
ON 
FEDERAL 
LANDS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior or 
the Secretary of Agriculture may submit a request to the 
President consistent with the requirements of this title for 
a declaration by the President that a major disaster for 
wildfire on Federal lands exists. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—A request for a declaration 
by the President that a major disaster for wildfire on Fed-
eral lands exists shall—
‘‘(1) be made in writing by the respective Sec-
retary; 
‘‘(2) certify that the amount appropriated in 
the current fiscal year for wildfire suppression oper-
ations of the Federal land management agencies 
under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary, 
net of any concurrently enacted rescissions of wild-
fire suppression funds, increases the total unobli-
gated balance of amounts available for wildfire sup-
pression by an amount equal to or greater than the 
average total costs incurred by the Federal land 
management agencies per year for wildfire suppres-
sion operations, including the suppression costs in 
excess of appropriated amounts, over the previous 
ten fiscal years; 
‘‘(3) certify that the amount available for wild-
fire suppression operations of the Federal land man-
agement agencies under the jurisdiction of the re-
spective Secretary will be obligated not later than 30 
days after such Secretary notifies the President that 
wildfire suppression funds will be exhausted to fund 
ongoing and anticipated wildfire suppression oper-
ations related to the wildfire on which the request 
for the declaration of a major disaster for wildfire 
on Federal lands pursuant to this title is based; and
‘‘(4) specify the amount required in the current 
fiscal year to fund wildfire suppression operations 
related to the wildfire on which the request for the 
declaration of a major disaster for wildfire on Fed-
eral lands pursuant to this title is based. 
‘‘(c) DECLARATION.—Based on the request of the re-
spective Secretary under this title, the President may de-
clare that a major disaster for wildfire on Federal lands 
exists. 
‘‘SEC. 803. WILDFIRE ON FEDERAL LANDS ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In a major disaster for wildfire 
on Federal lands, the President may transfer funds, only 
from the account established pursuant to subsection (b), 
to the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agri-
culture to conduct wildfire suppression operations on Fed-
eral lands (and non-Federal lands pursuant to a fire pro-
tection agreement or cooperative agreement). 
‘‘(b) WILDFIRE
SUPPRESSION
OPERATIONS
AC-
COUNT.—The President shall establish a specific account 
for the assistance available pursuant to a declaration 
under section 802. Such account may only be used to fund 
assistance pursuant to this title. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(1) LIMITATION OF TRANSFER.—The assist-
ance available pursuant to a declaration under sec-
tion 802 is limited to the transfer of the amount re-
quested pursuant to section 802(b)(4). The assist-
ance available for transfer shall not exceed the 
amount contained in the wildfire suppression oper-
ations account established pursuant to subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(2) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—Funds under this 
section shall be transferred from the wildfire sup-
pression operations account to the wildfire suppres-
sion subactivity of the Wildland Fire Management 
Account. 
‘‘(d) PROHIBITION OF OTHER TRANSFERS.—Except 
as provided in this section, no funds may be transferred 
to or from the account established pursuant to subsection 
(b) to or from any other fund or account. 
‘‘(e) REIMBURSEMENT FOR WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION 
OPERATIONS
ON
NON-FEDERAL
LAND.—If amounts 
transferred under subsection (c) are used to conduct wild-
fire suppression operations on non-Federal land, the re-
spective Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) secure reimbursement for the cost of such 
wildfire suppression operations conducted on the 
non-Federal land; and
‘‘(2) transfer the amounts received as reim-
bursement to the wildfire suppression operations ac-
count established pursuant to subsection (b). 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL ACCOUNTING
AND REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Not later than 90 days after the end of 
each fiscal year for which assistance is received pursuant 
to this section, the respective Secretary shall submit to 
the Committees on Agriculture, Appropriations, the Budg-
et, Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the Committees 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Appropriations, 
the Budget, Energy and Natural Resources, Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs, and Indian Affairs of 
the Senate, and make available to the public, a report that 
includes the following: 
‘‘(1) The risk-based factors that influenced 
management decisions regarding wildfire suppression 
operations of the Federal land management agencies 
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned. 
‘‘(2) Specific discussion of a statistically signifi-
cant sample of large fires, in which each fire is ana-
lyzed for cost drivers, effectiveness of risk manage-
ment techniques, resulting positive or negative im-
pacts of fire on the landscape, impact of investments 
in preparedness, suggested corrective actions, and
such other factors as the respective Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
‘‘(3) Total expenditures for wildfire suppression 
operations of the Federal land management agencies 
under the jurisdiction of the respective Secretary, 
broken out by fire sizes, cost, regional location, and 
such other factors as the such Secretary considers 
appropriate. 
‘‘(4) Lessons learned. 
‘‘(5) Such other matters as the respective Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(g) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this title shall 
limit the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, Indian tribe, or a State from receiving assistance 
through a declaration made by the President under this 
Act when the criteria for such declaration have been 
met.’’. 
SEC. 903. PROHIBITION ON TRANSFERS. 
No funds may be transferred to or from the Federal 
land management agencies’ wildfire suppression oper-
ations accounts referred to in section 801(3) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
to or from any account or subactivity of the Federal land 
management agencies, as defined in section 801(2) of such
Act, that is not used to cover the cost of wildfire suppres-
sion operations. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2015. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2647 
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.