Title: Wildland Fires Act of 2017
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Wildland Fires Act of 2017
This bill requires the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a cost review each fiscal year of each wildfire covering an area greater than 100,000 acres.
Appropriations for wildfire management operations in USDA's or Interior's Wildland Fire Management accounts that are not expended for a fiscal year may be available for wildfire risk reduction projects on federal land.
Interior and USDA shall: (1) publish a map depicting at-risk communities (as re-defined by this bill), including tribal communities; and (2) furnish financial assistance to such communities adjacent to federal land for wildfire planning and preparations.
Interior and USDA shall: (1) establish a pilot program to reduce the risk of wildfires to communities in the wildland-urban interface and reestablish natural fire regimes outside such interface, and (2) implement the program to treat specified federal land composed primarily of ponderosa or Jeffrey pines by September 30, 2027. The bill establishes the Pilot Monitoring Committee to monitor the impacts on wildfire risk and the ecological effects of the projects being implemented under such program.
Interior and USDA: (1) may issue stewardship contracts or enter into stewardship agreements for up to 10 years to conduct prescribed fires on federal lands, and (2) shall establish a pilot program for awarding contracts or agreements of up to 20 years to carry out restoration projects or hazardous fuels reduction projects on federal lands.
The National Forest Foundation shall establish a program to certify as a collaborative a group of interested persons that is interested in assisting USDA and Interior in increasing the quantity of projects or activities such departments carry out on an individual unit of National Forest System land or public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in accordance with the applicable management plan.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4208 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4208

 To reduce the risk posed by wildfires to communities and the most at-
                     risk federally owned forests.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 1, 2017

Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Mr. Amodei) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
   Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To reduce the risk posed by wildfires to communities and the most at-
                     risk federally owned forests.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 ``Wildland Fires Act 
of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purpose.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Additional accountability.
Sec. 5. Incentive for cost savings.
Sec. 6. Definition of at-risk community.
Sec. 7. Community planning assistance for at-risk communities.
Sec. 8. Accelerated restoration program for ponderosa pine forests.
Sec. 9. Increasing certainty for the local workforce and infrastructure 
                            necessary for restoration.
Sec. 10. National Forest Foundation.
Sec. 11. Termination of authority.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to build on the successes of the Federal 
Wildland Fire Management Policy and National Cohesive Fire Strategy 
established pursuant to section 503 of the FLAME Act of 2009 (43 U.S.C. 
1748b) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this 
Act), as necessary to protect communities from wildfires on Federal 
land by--
            (1) increasing transparency and accountability for the 
        costs of managing wildfires;
            (2) requiring the Secretary concerned to treat the most at-
        risk forests to protect at-risk communities and reestablish 
        natural fire regimes; and
            (3) providing additional funding to communities to enable 
        them to reduce the risks to the communities from wildfires.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) At-risk community.--The term ``at-risk community'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy 
        Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).
            (2) Certified collaborative.--The term ``certified 
        collaborative'' means a group of interested persons certified 
        as a collaborative by the National Forest Foundation under 
        subsection (a) of section 409 of the National Forest Foundation 
        Act (16 U.S.C. 583j-7) (as amended by section 11(a)).
            (3) Community wildfire protection plan.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``community wildfire 
                protection plan'' has the meaning given the term in 
                section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
                2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).
                    (B) Inclusion.--The term ``community wildfire 
                protection plan'' includes a land resource management 
                plan.
            (4) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the 
        following:
                    (A) National Forest System land reserved from the 
                public domain.
                    (B) The following land administered by the 
                Secretary of the Interior:
                            (i) Public lands (as defined in section 103 
                        of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
                        of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)).
                            (ii) A unit of the National Park System.
                            (iii) A unit of the National Wildlife 
                        Refuge System.
                            (iv) Land held in trust for an Indian 
                        tribe.
            (5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (6) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
        Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.
            (7) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
                activities under the Department of the Interior; and
                    (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
                activities under the Department of Agriculture.
            (8) Wildland-urban interface.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``wildland-urban 
                interface'' has the meaning given the term in section 
                101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 
                U.S.C. 6511).
                    (B) Exclusion.--The term ``wildland-urban 
                interface'' does not include--
                            (i) any forest reserve not created from the 
                        public domain; or
                            (ii) any national grassland or land 
                        utilization project administered under title 
                        III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 
                        U.S.C. 1010 et seq.).

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

    (a) Accounting and Reporting Requirements.--For each fiscal year, 
the Secretaries shall conduct a cost review of each wildfire that 
covers an area greater than 100,000 acres.
    (b) Components.--The cost review under subsection (a) shall 
document costs and risk-based factors that influenced management 
decisions for each wildfire, including--
            (1) a comparison of the total suppression cost to a 
        stratified cost index;
            (2) the percentage of acres burned with resource benefits;
            (3) the percentage of Federal land burned and the 
        percentage of the total suppression costs ultimately paid by 
        the Secretaries;
            (4) the number of hours of exposure experienced by 
        firefighters;
            (5) the effectiveness of wildfire management decisions, 
        including--
                    (A) an analysis of the estimated monetary value of 
                the resources protected;
                    (B) the risk to the resources from the wildfire;
                    (C) the costs incurred or that would have been 
                incurred to protect the resources;
                    (D) the impact of any actions taken to protect the 
                resources; and
                    (E) whether the resources were damaged by the 
                wildfire;
            (6) the total cost of aircraft for the wildfire, 
        including--
                    (A) the cost of delivering water or fire retardant 
                to the wildfire incurred after the initial attack; and
                    (B) the cost of aircraft use incurred after the 
                wildfire is contained;
            (7) whether the fire operations strategy tracked the 
        relevant spatial wildfire risk assessment and spatial fire 
        management plan; and
            (8) any other costs or factors that the Secretaries 
        determine to be appropriate.
    (c) Submission and Publication.--The Secretaries shall--
            (1) submit annually to the Committee on Appropriations, the 
        Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Natural Resources 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee 
        on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
        describing the information required under subsection (a); and
            (2) make the report submitted under paragraph (1) available 
        to the public.

SEC. 5. INCENTIVE FOR COST SAVINGS.

    (a) In General.--Amounts made available in an annual appropriations 
Act for wildfire management operations in the Wildland Fire Management 
account of the Department of the Interior or the Department of 
Agriculture for a fiscal year that are not expended for that fiscal 
year may be available to the Secretary concerned for wildfire risk 
reduction projects on Federal land (including land held in trust for an 
Indian tribe with the approval of the Indian tribe) in accordance with 
subsection (b).
    (b) Project Priorities.--In providing amounts made available to the 
Secretary concerned under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall 
give priority to projects that are--
            (1) conducted in areas that--
                    (A) are within or adjacent to--
                            (i) at-risk communities; or
                            (ii) high-value watersheds;
                    (B) have very high wildfire hazard potential; and
                    (C) are in Fire Regime Group I, II, or III; and
            (2) designed to achieve one or more of the goals 
        established in the report of the Secretaries entitled ``The 
        National Strategy: the Final Phase of the Development of the 
        National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy'' and dated 
        April 2014--
                    (A) to create fire-adapted communities;
                    (B) to restore and maintain resilient landscapes; 
                and
                    (C) to achieve safe, effective fire response.
    (c) Annual Reports.--The Secretary concerned shall submit with the 
annual budget of the United States submitted by the President under 
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a list of projects to be 
implemented using amounts made available to the Secretary concerned 
under subsection (a).

SEC. 6. DEFINITION OF AT-RISK COMMUNITY.

    Section 101(1)(A) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
(16 U.S.C. 6511(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``comprised of'' in the 
matter preceding clause (i) and all that follows through ``a group'' in 
clause (ii) and inserting ``comprised of a group''.

SEC. 7. COMMUNITY PLANNING ASSISTANCE FOR AT-RISK COMMUNITIES.

    (a) Development of Map.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretaries 
shall develop and publish a map depicting at-risk communities, 
including tribal communities.
    (b) Planning and Preparing At-Risk Communities for Wildfire.--
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretaries shall 
provide financial assistance to at-risk communities adjacent to Federal 
land (including land held in trust for Indian tribes), including 
through States, to assist the at-risk communities in planning and 
preparing for wildfire, including--
            (1) cosponsoring and supporting the expansion of--
                    (A) the Firewise Program;
                    (B) the Ready, Set, Go program;
                    (C) the Living with Wildfire program; or
                    (D) programs similar to the programs referred to in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C);
            (2) supporting the development, updating, and 
        implementation of community wildfire protection plans;
            (3) carrying out risk assessments and creating maps that 
        depict wildfire risk to assist in planning for response and 
        suppression resource needs and implementing hazardous fuel 
        treatment programs;
            (4) sharing costs to create defensible space for a distance 
        of not less than 100 feet around a residence that was built 
        before the date of enactment of this Act; and
            (5) planning and implementing cross-boundary hazardous 
        fuels reduction projects as identified in a community wildfire 
        protection plan.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $100,000,000 to carry out this section for each fiscal 
year.

SEC. 8. ACCELERATED RESTORATION PROGRAM FOR PONDEROSA PINE FORESTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Average severe fire weather.--With respect to a unit of 
        Federal land, the term ``average severe fire weather'' means 
        the 90th percentile of atmospheric and fuel conditions under 
        which wildfires would burn in that unit in a given year.
            (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
                    (A) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the 
                Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
                U.S.C. 1702));
                    (B) land held in trust for Indian tribes; or
                    (C) National Forest System land.
            (3) Hazardous fuel reduction.--The term ``hazardous fuel 
        reduction'' means the removal or modification of flammable 
        vegetation or woody debris through prescribed fire, thinning, 
        brush removal, mastication, pruning, slash treatment, or a 
        combination of those methods, on the condition that the method 
        is ecologically appropriate, cost-effective, and selected on a 
        site-specific basis.
            (4) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the 
        pilot program established under subsection (b)(1).
    (b) Pilot Program.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
the Secretaries shall--
            (1) establish a pilot program to reduce the risk of 
        wildfires to communities in the wildland-urban interface and 
        reestablish natural fire regimes outside the wildland-urban 
        interface; and
            (2) implement the pilot program to treat the approximately 
        2,000,000 acres of Federal land described in subsection (d), by 
        not later than September 30, 2027.
    (c) Administration of Pilot Program.--
            (1) Protecting communities.--For land located in the 
        wildland-urban interface, the Secretaries shall reduce the risk 
        of wildfire to communities by removing or modifying vegetation 
        and slash until the area would only sustain a wildfire that is 
        low-intensity and easy to suppress in average severe fire 
        weather conditions.
            (2) Restoring the role of fire in forests.--For land 
        located outside the wildland-urban interface, the Secretaries 
        shall reestablish natural fire regimes by conducting prescribed 
        fires and associated activities.
            (3) Accomplishments.--The requirement to treat Federal land 
        under subsection (b)(2) shall be considered to be met when--
                    (A) for Federal land located in the wildland-urban 
                interface, the Federal land would only sustain a 
                wildfire that is low-intensity and easy to suppress in 
                average severe fire weather conditions; and
                    (B) for Federal land located outside the wildland-
                urban interface, the Federal land has been burned by a 
                prescribed fire conducted by the Secretaries.
            (4) Burned areas.--Any Federal land that is burned by a 
        wildfire after the date on which the document described in 
        subsection (d)(2) is published shall be excluded from the pilot 
        program.
            (5) Partnerships.--The Secretaries shall implement the 
        pilot program cooperatively with partners, including States, 
        local governments, prescribed fire councils, and other 
        entities.
            (6) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection modifies 
        any requirements in applicable law and policy to which the 
        Secretaries must adhere while conducting prescribed fires.
    (d) Treatment Locations.--The Secretaries shall only carry out the 
pilot program only on Federal land that--
            (1) is, or historically was, composed primarily of 
        ponderosa pines or Jeffrey pines; and
            (2) is identified in the document of the Secretary of 
        Agriculture entitled ``Wildland Fire Potential: A Tool for 
        Assessing Wildfire Risk and Fuels Management Needs'', dated 
        July 2015, and published as part of the Proceedings of the 
        Large Wildland Fires Conference--
                    (A) as being the ``highest priority areas'' on 
                National Forest System land; or
                    (B) as having a ``very high'' wildland fire 
                potential on--
                            (i) public lands (as defined in section 103 
                        of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
                        of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)); and
                            (ii) land held in trust for an Indian 
                        tribe.
    (e) Excluded Areas.--This section does not apply to--
            (1) any component of the National Wilderness Preservation 
        System;
            (2) any wilderness study area, if a treatment required by 
        this section would impair the suitability of the area to be 
        designated a component of the National Wilderness Preservation 
        System;
            (3) any research natural area;
            (4) any Federal land on which the removal of vegetation 
        described in this section is prohibited by law; or
            (5) any Federal land that is burned by a wildland fire 
        after the date on which the document described in subsection 
        (d)(2) is published.
    (f) Categorical Exclusion To Reduce the Risk of Wildfires to 
Communities and To Reestablish Natural Fire Regimes.--
            (1) Availability of a categorical exclusion and 
        exemption.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned 
        may use a categorical exclusion for conducting hazardous fuel 
        reduction activities for a project under the pilot program if 
        the main purpose of which is to reduce the risk of wildfires to 
        communities or to reestablish natural fire regimes on Federal 
        land described in subsection (d).
            (2) Limitations for the use of the categorical exclusion.--
                    (A) Requirement for collaboration.--A project 
                covered by a categorical exclusion described in 
                paragraph (1)(A) shall be--
                            (i) developed by a certified collaborative;
                            (ii) included in a selected proposal under 
                        the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration 
                        Program established under section 4003 of the 
                        Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 
                        U.S.C. 7303);
                            (iii) conducted pursuant to the Tribal 
                        Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 
                        3115a); or
                            (iv) covered in a community wildfire 
                        protection plan that was developed within the 
                        5-year period preceding the date on which the 
                        hazardous fuels reduction project is authorized 
                        under this section.
                    (B) Size constraint in the wildland-urban 
                interface.--A project that is covered by the 
                categorical exclusion described in paragraph (1)(A) and 
                conducted in the wildland-urban interface shall not 
                cover more than 3,000 acres of Federal land.
                    (C) Application to prescribed fires.--The Secretary 
                concerned may use the categorical exclusion described 
                in paragraph (1)(A) to conduct a prescribed fire 
                outside the wildland-urban interface, regardless of the 
                acreage covered by the prescribed fire--
                            (i) to treat a site initially; or
                            (ii) to maintain the site.
                    (D) Prescribed fire associated activities.--A 
                project covered by the categorical exclusion described 
                in paragraph (1)(A) may include activities associated 
                with a prescribed fire, including hazardous fuel 
                reduction activities and the construction of fire 
                control lines, if--
                            (i) the Secretary concerned conducts the 
                        prescribed fire on the Federal land on which 
                        the Secretary concerned conducted the 
                        associated activities by the date that is not 
                        later than 4 years after the date on which the 
                        Secretary concerned commenced the associated 
                        activities; and
                            (ii) the project is located outside the 
                        wildland-urban interface.
                    (E) Pesticides.--A project covered by the 
                categorical exclusion described in paragraph (1)(A) 
                shall not include the use of herbicide or insecticide.
                    (F) Extraordinary circumstances.--
                            (i) In general.--The Secretary concerned 
                        shall apply the extraordinary circumstances 
                        procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, 
                        Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
                        regulations), in determining whether to use the 
                        categorical exclusion described in paragraph 
                        (1)(A).
                            (ii) Further guidance.--The Secretary 
                        concerned may not use the categorical exclusion 
                        described in paragraph (1)(A) for a project 
                        located in any designated critical habitat for 
                        a species listed as a threatened species or an 
                        endangered species under the Endangered Species 
                        Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) unless--
                                    (I) the natural fire regimes on 
                                that land are identified as being 
                                important for, or wildfire is 
                                identified as a threat to, an 
                                endangered species, a threatened 
                                species, or habitat of an endangered 
                                species or threatened species in a 
                                species recovery plan prepared under 
                                section 4 of the Endangered Species Act 
                                of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533), or a notice 
                                published in the Federal Register 
                                determining a species to be an 
                                endangered species or a threatened 
                                species or designating critical 
                                habitat;
                                    (II) the authorized hazardous fuel 
                                reduction project will provide enhanced 
                                protection from uncharacteristic 
                                wildfire for the endangered species, 
                                threatened species, or habitat of the 
                                endangered species or threatened 
                                species; and
                                    (III) the Secretary complies with 
                                any applicable guidelines specified in 
                                any management or recovery plan 
                                described in subparagraph (A).
            (3) Decision memorandum.--The Secretary concerned shall 
        document in a decision memorandum any decision of the Secretary 
        concerned to use the categorical exclusion described in 
        paragraph (1)(A) to carry out hazardous fuel reduction 
        activities under this section.
            (4) Public notice.--With respect to a proposed project to 
        carry out hazardous fuel reduction activities under this 
        section, the Secretary concerned shall--
                    (A) conduct a public scoping process for the 
                proposed project; and
                    (B) if the Secretary concerned uses a categorical 
                exclusion described in paragraph (1)(A), distribute to 
                any parties interested in the proposed project the 
                applicable decision memorandum prepared under paragraph 
                (3).
    (g) Limitations on Pilot Program Activities.--In conducting a 
project under the pilot program, the Secretary concerned--
            (1) shall seek to maximize the retention of old trees and 
        medium- and large-sized trees, as appropriate for the forest 
        type, to the extent that the trees promote fire-resilient 
        stands and the objectives identified in this section can be 
        achieved;
            (2) shall seek to remove the appropriate quantity of small 
        diameter trees and to treat accumulations of slash found in the 
        Federal land described in subsection (d);
            (3) shall ensure activities are consistent with the 
        applicable forest plan; and
            (4) shall not construct a permanent road.
    (h) Roads Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (g)(4), the 
Secretary concerned--
            (1) may include necessary maintenance of, repairs to, or 
        rehabilitation of an existing permanent road to accomplish the 
        objectives of this section; and
            (2) shall decommission any temporary road constructed in 
        carrying out a project under the pilot program by not later 
        than 3 years after the earlier of the date on which--
                    (A) the temporary road is no longer needed; or
                    (B) the project is completed.
    (i) Provincial Advisory Committee.--
            (1) In general.--There is established a committee, to be 
        known as the ``Pilot Monitoring Committee'' (referred to in 
        this subsection as the ``Committee''), which shall--
                    (A) monitor the impacts on wildfire risk and the 
                ecological effects of the projects being implemented 
                under the pilot program; and
                    (B) provide regular feedback to the Secretaries on 
                the implementation of the pilot program and suggested 
                timing of the treatments under the pilot program.
            (2) Membership.--
                    (A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of not 
                more than 12 members, to be appointed by the 
                Secretaries for a term of not fewer than 2 and not more 
                than 4 years.
                    (B) Membership.--The membership of the Committee 
                shall consist of representatives of--
                            (i) a wildlife conservation organization;
                            (ii) an environmental organization;
                            (iii) the timber industry;
                            (iv) a professional society for natural 
                        resource managers;
                            (v) a fire department in an at-risk 
                        community;
                            (vi) a State forestry agency;
                            (vii) a Firewise community with a community 
                        wildfire protection plan in effect on the date 
                        of the appointment;
                            (viii) a federally recognized Indian tribe;
                            (ix) a prescribed fire council;
                            (x) scientists researching wildfires; and
                            (xi) a certified collaborative.
                    (C) Pay and expenses.--
                            (i) Compensation.--A member of the 
                        Committee shall serve without compensation.
                            (ii) Travel expenses.--A member of the 
                        Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, 
                        including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
                        accordance with section 5703 of title 5, United 
                        States Code.
    (j) Reports.--
            (1) Accomplishment reporting.--Once each fiscal year 
        through fiscal year 2027, the Secretaries shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a concise report describing 
        the accomplishments of the Secretaries in implementing the 
        pilot program.
            (2) Final report on program.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year before the 
                date on which the pilot program terminates under 
                subsection (k), the Secretaries shall prepare a final 
                report describing the implementation and results of the 
                pilot program.
                    (B) Recommendations.--The final report shall 
                include recommendations of the Secretaries relating 
                to--
                            (i) whether the authorization for the 
                        categorical exclusion described in subsection 
                        (f)(1)(A) should be extended, let expire, or 
                        made permanent;
                            (ii) the manner in which the pilot program 
                        should be modified; and
                            (iii) if and how the scope of the pilot 
                        program should be expanded, including whether 
                        the pilot program should be expanded to dry 
                        mixed-conifer forests.
                    (C) Availability.--The Secretaries shall submit to 
                the appropriate committees of Congress, and make 
                available to the public, the final report.
    (k) Termination of Authority.--The authorities provided by and 
requirements described in this section shall terminate on the date that 
is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (l) Savings Clause.--Any contract entered into by the Secretaries 
under this section before the date described in subsection (k) shall 
not be affected by the termination of the pilot program.
    (m) Judicial Review.--Section 106 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6516) shall apply to a forest 
management activity carried out under this section in the same manner 
as that section applies to an authorized hazardous fuel reduction 
project under that Act.
    (n) Effect of Section.--Nothing in this section--
            (1) affects, or otherwise biases, the use by the Secretary 
        concerned of any other statutory or administrative authority 
        (including any categorical exclusion available under the 
        National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
        seq.)) to carry out one or more forest management activities 
        under this section; or
            (2) prohibits the Secretary concerned from carrying out a 
        treatment in an ecologically sensitive area, if the area is in 
        need of restoration.

SEC. 9. INCREASING CERTAINTY FOR THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
              NECESSARY FOR RESTORATION.

    (a) Clarification on Use of Stewardship Authorities.--The Secretary 
concerned may issue a stewardship contract or enter into a stewardship 
agreement under the authority provided in section 604 of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) for periods of not 
longer than 10 years to conduct prescribed fires on Federal land.
    (b) Pilot Program for Long-Term Contracts for Restoration of Fire-
Dependent Forests.--
            (1) Authorization.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Secretaries shall establish a pilot program 
        to award contracts or agreements for terms of not longer than 
        20 years to carry out restoration projects or hazardous fuels 
        reduction projects on Federal land (referred to in this 
        subsection as the ``pilot program'').
            (2) Limitations.--
                    (A) Quantity.--The Secretaries may enter into not 
                more than 10 contracts or agreements under the pilot 
                program during the period beginning on the date of 
                enactment of this Act and ending on September 30, 2027.
                    (B) Types of contracts.--Under the pilot program, 
                the Secretary concerned may award only--
                            (i) timber contracts under section 14 of 
                        the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 
                        U.S.C. 472a); or
                            (ii) stewardship contracts and agreements 
                        under section 604 of the Healthy Forests 
                        Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c).
                    (C) Locations.--
                            (i) Type of forests.--The Secretaries may 
                        enter into a contract or agreement under the 
                        pilot program to carry out projects only on 
                        Federal land located within Fire Regime Group 
                        I.
                            (ii) Additional criteria.--The Secretaries 
                        may enter into a contract or agreement under 
                        the pilot program only in a location for which 
                        there are fewer than 2 local entities that are 
                        able to process forest products from the 
                        contract or agreement.
                    (D) Preferences.--In awarding a contract or 
                agreement under the pilot program, the Secretary 
                concerned shall give preference to an entity that will 
                use forest products to manufacture--
                            (i) wood products that can be used in green 
                        building construction; or
                            (ii) mass timbers, including cross-
                        laminated timber.
            (3) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on 
        September 30, 2027.
            (4) Savings clause.--Any contract or agreement entered into 
        by the Secretaries under this subsection before the termination 
        of the pilot program shall not be affected by that termination.

SEC. 10. NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 409 of the National Forest Foundation Act 
(16 U.S.C. 583j-7) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 409. ACTIVITIES OF THE FOUNDATION AND THE FOREST SERVICE.

    ``(a) Certification of Collaboratives.--Not later than September 
30, 2019, the Foundation shall establish and administer a program to 
certify as a collaborative a group of interested persons that--
            ``(1) is interested in assisting the Secretary of the 
        Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture to increase the 
        quantity of projects or activities carried out by the 
        applicable Secretary on an individual unit of National Forest 
        System land or public land administered by the Bureau of Land 
        Management, as applicable, in accordance with the management 
        plan that covers the land; and
            ``(2) at a minimum--
                    ``(A) includes a diverse and balanced 
                representation of stakeholders;
                    ``(B) establishes clear expectations and goals;
                    ``(C) has a goal of maximum transparency in the 
                decisionmaking process;
                    ``(D) encourages stakeholders to function as 
                representatives;
                    ``(E) recognizes timeframes and resources; and
                    ``(F) enhances agency decisionmaking.
    ``(b) Savings Clause.--The activities of the Foundation shall 
supplement, and shall not preempt, any authority or responsibility of 
the Forest Service under any other law.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 410 of the National 
Forest Foundation Act (16 U.S.C. 583j-8) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(c) Additional Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out section 409(a) 
        $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        make available to the Foundation the amounts appropriated under 
        paragraph (1) to match, on a 1-for-1 basis, private 
        contributions made to the Foundation to establish or administer 
        the certification program required under section 409(a).''.

SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

    The authority provided by this Act and the amendments made by this 
Act terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act.
                                 <all>