Sec. 8203. Insect and disease infestation
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Title VI of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6591 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section, the term declining forest health means a forest that is experiencing— substantially increased tree mortality due to insect or disease infestation; or dieback due to infestation or defoliation by insects or disease. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 , the Secretary shall, if requested by the Governor of the State, designate as part of an insect and disease treatment program 1 or more 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.
After the end of the 60-day period described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may designate additional subwatersheds under this section as needed to address insect or disease threats. To be designated a subwatershed under subsection (b), the subwatershed shall be— experiencing declining forest health, based on annual forest health surveys conducted by the Secretary; 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 in an area in which the risk of hazard trees poses an imminent risk to public infrastructure, health, or safety.
The Secretary may carry out priority projects on Federal land in the subwatersheds designated under subsection
(b)to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation in the subwatersheds. Any project under paragraph
(1)for which a public notice to initiate scoping is issued on or before September 30, 2018, may be carried out in accordance with subsections (b), (c), and
(d)of section 102, and sections 104, 105, and 106. Projects carried out under this subsection shall be considered authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects for purposes of the authorities described in paragraph (2). Not later than September 30, 2018, the Secretary shall issue a report on actions taken to carry out this subsection, including— an evaluation of the progress towards project goals; and recommendations for modifications to the projects and management treatments. 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. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. .
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Sec. 8203
Insect and disease infestation
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