16 USC 6592d - Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 6592d.

Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Chiefs

(2)

Eligible activity

The term “eligible activity” means an activity—

(A)

to reduce the risk of wildfire;

(B)

to protect water quality and supply; or

(C)

to improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species.

(3)

Program

(4)

Secretary

(5)

Wildland-urban interface

(b)

Establishment

(1)

In general

(2)

Administration

The Secretary shall administer the Program by coordinating eligible activities conducted on National Forest System land and State, Tribal, or private land across a forest landscape to improve the health and resilience of the forest landscape by—

(A)

assisting producers and landowners in implementing eligible activities on eligible private or Tribal land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service under title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), not including the conservation reserve program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of that title (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.); and

(B)

conducting eligible activities on National Forest System land or assisting landowners in implementing eligible activities on State, Tribal, or private land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the Chief of the Forest Service.

(c)

Selection of eligible activities

(d)

Evaluation criteria

In evaluating and selecting proposals submitted under subsection (c), the Chiefs shall consider—

(1)

criteria including whether the proposal—

(A)

reduces wildfire risk in a municipal watershed or the wildland-urban interface;

(B)

was developed through a collaborative process with participation from diverse stakeholders;

(C)

increases forest workforce capacity or forest business infrastructure and development;

(D)

leverages existing authorities and non-Federal funding;

(E)

provides measurable outcomes; or

(F)

supports established State and regional priorities; and

(2)

such other criteria relating to the merits of the proposals as the Chiefs determine to be appropriate.

(e)

Outreach

The Secretary shall provide—

(1)

public notice on the websites of the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service describing—

(A)

the solicitation of proposals under subsection (c); and

(B)

the criteria for selecting proposals in accordance with subsection (d); and

(2)

information relating to the Program and activities funded under the Program to States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and private landowners.

(f)

Exclusions

An eligible activity may not be carried out under the Program—

(1)

in a wilderness area or designated wilderness study area;

(2)

in an inventoried roadless area;

(3)

on any Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited; or

(4)

in an area in which the eligible activity would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan.

(g)

Accountability

(1)

Initial report

Not later than 1 year after November 15, 2021, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report providing recommendations to Congress relating to the Program, including a review of—

(A)

funding mechanisms for the Program;

(B)

staff capacity to carry out the Program;

(C)

privacy laws applicable to the Program;

(D)

data collection under the Program;

(E)

monitoring and outcomes under the Program; and

(F)

such other matters as the Secretary considers to be appropriate.

(2)

Additional reports

(h)

Funding

(1)

Authorization of appropriations

(2)

Additional funds

(3)

Duration of availability

(4)

Distribution of funds

Of the funds made available under paragraph (1)—

(A)

not less than 40 percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service;

(B)

not less than 40 percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the Forest Service; and

(C)

the remaining funds shall be allocated by the Chiefs to the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Forest Service—

(i)

to carry out eligible activities; or

(ii)

for other purposes, such as technical assistance, project development, or local capacity building.

(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title VIII, § 40808, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1114.)

cite as: 16 USC 6592d