PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary must make a yearly work plan for federal land that gives top priority to hazardous fuel reduction projects that protect at-risk communities or watersheds or that put community wildfire protection plans into action. The Secretary must consider ideas from at-risk communities that have created those plans. The normal federal planning procedures in chapter 10 of Title 5 do not apply to making or recommending community wildfire protection plans. Helping to develop a community wildfire protection plan is not treated as a federal action under NEPA, but actually carrying out authorized fuel reduction projects on federal land must follow NEPA rules as required under section 6514. At least 50 percent of the money set aside nationally for hazardous fuel reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface must be used on federal land, though the Secretary can move funds between local units as needed. For projects with a decision notice issued in the 1-year period starting December 3, 2003, earlier definitions of "wildland-urban interface" apply. When funding projects on non-federal land, the Secretary should consider recommendations from communities with plans and give priority to communities that have adopted plans or encouraged owners to reduce risks. The Secretary may give grants to State foresters for cross-boundary projects that treat land across federal and non-federal ownerships. Non-federal land includes State, county, Tribal, private, and other non-federal land. State foresters must consult landowners and get their consent before working on non-federal land. Up to $20,000,000 is authorized each year for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to carry out these cross-boundary grants.

Title 16, §6513

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

In accordance with the Implementation Plan, the Secretary shall develop an annual program of work for Federal land that gives priority to authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects that provide for the protection of at-risk communities or watersheds or that implement community wildfire protection plans.

(b)Collaboration

(1)In general

The Secretary shall consider recommendations under subsection (a) that are made by at-risk communities that have developed community wildfire protection plans.

(2)Exemption

Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the planning process and recommendations concerning community wildfire protection plans.

(c)Administration

(1)In general

Federal agency involvement in developing a community wildfire protection plan, or a recommendation made in a community wildfire protection plan, shall not be considered a Federal agency action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

(2)Compliance

In implementing authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects on Federal land, the Secretary shall, in accordance with section 6514 of this title, comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

(d)Funding allocation

(1)Federal land (2) Non-Federal land

(A)In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall use not less than 50 percent of the funds allocated for authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface.

(B)Applicability and allocation

The funding allocation in subparagraph (A) shall apply at the national level. The Secretary may allocate the proportion of funds differently than is required under subparagraph (A) within individual management units as appropriate, in particular to conduct authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects on land described in section 6512(a)(4) of this title.

(C)Wildland-urban interface

In the case of an authorized hazardous fuel reduction project for which a decision notice is issued during the 1-year period beginning on December 3, 2003, the Secretary shall use existing definitions of the term “wildland-urban interface” rather than the definition of that term provided under section 6511 of this title.

(e)Cross-boundary hazardous fuel reduction projects

(1)Definitions

In this subsection: (A) Hazardous fuel reduction project

(B)Non-Federal land

The term “non-Federal land” includes—

(i)State land;

(ii)county land;

(iii)Tribal land;

(iv)private land; and

(v)other non-Federal land.

(2)Grants

The Secretary may make grants to State foresters to support hazardous fuel reduction projects that incorporate treatments in landscapes across ownership boundaries on Federal and non-Federal land, particularly in areas identified as priorities in applicable State-wide forest resource assessments or strategies under section 2101a(a) of this title, as mutually agreed to by the State forester and the Regional Forester.

(3)Land treatments

To conduct and fund treatments for hazardous fuel reduction projects carried out by State foresters using grants under paragraph (2), the Secretary may use the authorities of the Secretary relating to cooperation and technical and financial assistance, including the good neighbor authority under—

(A)section 2113a of this title; and

(B)section 331 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (16 U.S.C. 1011 note; Public Law 106–291).

(4)Cooperation

In carrying out a hazardous fuel reduction project using a grant under paragraph (2) on non-Federal land, the State forester, in consultation with the Secretary—

(A)shall consult with any applicable owners of the non-Federal land; and

(B)shall not implement the hazardous fuel reduction project on non-Federal land without the consent of the owner of the non-Federal land.

(5)Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (c), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)”. 2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334 added subsec. (e).

§6513 Prioritization