PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary must pick large forest areas to treat for insect and disease problems. Declining forest health means either much higher tree death from insects or disease, or tree dieback from insect attack or defoliation. Within 60 days after February 7, 2014, if a State’s governor asks, the Secretary must designate one or more landscape-scale areas, like subwatersheds (sixth-level hydrologic units), in at least one national forest in each State facing an insect or disease epidemic. After that 60-day period, the Secretary may add more areas as needed. An area can be chosen if it already shows declining health by the Secretary’s surveys, or if the latest National Insect and Disease Risk Map shows it is likely to lose many trees over the next 15 years, or if hazard trees pose an immediate threat to roads, health, or safety. The Secretary may carry out priority projects on Federal land in those areas to lower infestation risk or to reduce hazardous fuels. Projects that begin public scoping on or before September 30, 2023 may use certain existing authorities and are treated as authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects. The Secretary must issue one report not earlier than September 30, 2018 and a second not earlier than September 30, 2024 on progress and recommended changes. Projects must try to keep old-growth and large trees when doing treatments, as appropriate for the forest.

Title 16, §6591a

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definition of declining forest health

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)Designation of treatment areas

(1)Initial areas

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)Additional areas

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)Requirements

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)Treatment of areas

(1)In general

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)Authority

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)Effect

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

(4)Report

(A)In general

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)Schedule

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)Tree retention

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, 2025, to continue, and authorities to be carried out, until the later of Sept. 30, 2026; the date specified in the provision of Pub. L. 115–234 or

Amendments

made by that Act or by any other provisions of law enacted thereafter, including Pub. L. 118–234 and Pub. L. 119–21; or the date in effect pursuant to section 4101 of Pub. L. 118–158, see section 5002(a) of Pub. L. 119–37, set out in an Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 9001 of Title 7, Agriculture. The authorities provided by each provision of, and each amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, as in effect on Sept. 30, 2024, to continue, and authorities to be carried out, until the later of Sept. 30, 2025; the date specified in the provision of, or amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334; or the date in effect pursuant to section 102 of Pub. L. 118–22, see section 4101(a) of Pub. L. 118–158, set out in an Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 9001 of Title 7, Agriculture. 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

Amendments

Citations & Metadata