§6591a — Title 16 Conservation | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary must, if a State governor asks, pick one or more large treatment areas (like subwatersheds) in at least one national forest in each State that has an insect or disease epidemic. The first designations had to be made within 60 days after February 7, 2014, and more areas can be added later as needed. A place can be picked if it has "declining forest health" (major tree deaths or dieback from insects or disease), is likely to lose lots of trees over the next 15 years based on the Forest Service risk map, or has danger from hazard trees that threaten roads, buildings, health, or safety. In those areas the Secretary may carry out priority projects on Federal land to lower insect and disease risk or reduce hazardous fuels. Projects with a public scoping notice issued by September 30, 2023 may follow certain existing procedures. The Secretary must issue two reports on these efforts — one not before September 30, 2018, and a second not before September 30, 2024 — showing progress and recommended changes. Projects must try to keep old-growth and large trees when it helps forest resilience.

Title 16, §6591a

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, the term “declining forest health” means a forest that is experiencing—

(1)substantially increased tree mortality due to insect or disease infestation; or

(2)dieback due to infestation or defoliation by insects or disease.

(b)(1)Not later than 60 days after February 7, 2014, the Secretary shall, if requested by the Governor of the State, designate as part of an insect and disease treatment program 1 or more landscape-scale areas, such as subwatersheds (sixth-level hydrologic units, according to the System of Hydrologic Unit Codes of the United States Geological Survey), in at least 1 national forest in each State that is experiencing an insect or disease epidemic.

(2)After the end of the 60-day period described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may designate additional landscape-scale areas under this section as needed to address insect or disease threats.

(c)To be designated a landscape-scale area under subsection (b), the area shall be—

(1)experiencing declining forest health, based on annual forest health surveys conducted by the Secretary;

(2)at risk of experiencing substantially increased tree mortality over the next 15 years due to insect or disease infestation, based on the most recent National Insect and Disease Risk Map published by the Forest Service; or

(3)in an area in which the risk of hazard trees poses an imminent risk to public infrastructure, health, or safety.

(d)(1)The Secretary may carry out priority projects on Federal land in the areas designated under subsection (b)—

(A)to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation; or

(B)to reduce hazardous fuels.

(2)Any project under paragraph (1) for which a public notice to initiate scoping is issued on or before September 30, 2023, may be carried out in accordance with subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 6512 of this title, and section 6514, 6515, and 6516 of this title.

(3)Projects carried out under this subsection shall be considered authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects for purposes of the authorities described in paragraph (2).

(4)(A)In accordance with the schedule described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall issue 2 reports on actions taken to carry out this subsection, including—

(i)an evaluation of the progress towards project goals; and

(ii)recommendations for modifications to the projects and management treatments.

(B)The Secretary shall—

(i)not earlier than September 30, 2018, issue the initial report under subparagraph (A); and

(ii)not earlier than September 30, 2024, issue the second report under that subparagraph.

(e)The Secretary shall carry out projects under subsection (d) in a manner that maximizes the retention of old-growth and large trees, as appropriate for the forest type, to the extent that the trees promote stands that are resilient to insects and disease.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification The authorities provided by each provision of, and each amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, as in effect on Sept. 30, 2023, to continue, and authorities to be carried out, until the later of Sept. 30, 2024, or the date specified in the provision of, or amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, see section 102(a) of Pub. L. 118–22, set out in an Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 9001 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8407(b)(1), substituted “subsection (b)—” and subpars. (A) and (B) for “subsection (b) to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation in the areas.” Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8407(b)(2), substituted “2023” for “2018”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8408, struck out subsec. (f). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2024.”

§6591a Designation of Treatment Areas

Summary

Title 16, §6591a

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata