§ 2106a.
(b)
Form of assistance
The assistance, if any, provided by the Secretary under this section shall consist of either—
(1)
reimbursement of up to 65 percent of the cost of reestablishing such tree stand damaged by the damaging weather, related condition, or wildfire in excess of 35 percent mortality; or
(2)
at the discretion of the Secretary, provision of sufficient tree seedlings to reestablish such tree stand.
(d)
Definitions
As used in this section—
(1)
the term “damaging weather” includes drought, hail, excessive moisture, freeze, tornado, hurricane, excessive wind, or any combination thereof;
(2)
the term “eligible landowner” means a person who—
(A)
produces annual crops from trees for commercial purposes and owns 500 acres or less of such trees;
(B)
owns 1,000 acres or less of private forest land; or
(C)
owns more than 1,000 acres but less than 5,000 acres of private forest land if the Secretary, in the Secretary’s discretion, determines the person eligible;
(3)
the term “qualifying gross revenues” means—
(A)
if a majority of the person’s annual income is received from farming, ranching, and forestry operations, the gross revenue from the person’s farming, ranching, and forestry operations; and
(B)
if less than a majority of the person’s annual income is received from farming, ranching, and forestry operations, the person’s gross revenue from all sources;
(4)
the term “related condition” includes insect infestations, disease, or other deterioration of a tree stand that is accelerated or exacerbated by damaging weather;
(5)
the term “reestablish” includes site preparation, reforestation of a damaged stand, and timber stand improvement practices, including thinning, prescribed burning, and other practices approved by the Secretary for reforestation;
(6)
the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(7)
the term “wildfire” means any forest or range fire.
([Pub. L. 101–624, title XII, § 1271], Nov. 28, 1990, [104 Stat. 3557]; [Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1018(f)], Dec. 13, 1991, [105 Stat. 1906]; [Pub. L. 104–127, title III, § 336(a)(2)(E)], Apr. 4, 1996, [110 Stat. 1005]; [Pub. L. 110–234, title I, § 1603(g)(5)], May 22, 2008, [122 Stat. 1011]; [Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)], title I, § 1603(g)(5), June 18, 2008, [122 Stat. 1664], 1740; [Pub. L. 113–79, title I, § 1609(b)(1)], Feb. 7, 2014, [128 Stat. 709]; [Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2301(d)(2)(E)], Dec. 20, 2018, [132 Stat. 4554].)