Sec. 8632. Utility infrastructure rights-of-way vegetation management pilot program
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In this section: The term National Forest System land means land within the National Forest System, as defined in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 ( 16 U.S.C. 1609(a) ). The term National Forest System land does not include— a National Grassland; or a land utilization project on land designated as a National Grassland and administered pursuant to sections 31, 32, and 33 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1010 , 1011, 1012).
The term passing wildfire means a wildfire that originates outside of a right-of-way. The term pilot program means the pilot program established by the Secretary under subsection (b). The term right-of-way means a special use authorization issued by the Forest Service allowing the placement of utility infrastructure. The term utility infrastructure means electric transmission lines, natural gas infrastructure, or related structures. To encourage owners or operators of rights-of-way on National Forest System land to partner with the Forest Service to voluntarily conduct vegetation management projects on a proactive basis to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires, the Secretary may establish a limited, voluntary pilot program, in the manner described in this section, to conduct vegetation management projects on National Forest System land adjacent to or near those rights-of-way.
A participant in the pilot program shall be the owner or operator of a right-of-way on National Forest System land. In selecting participants for the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to an owner or operator of a right-of-way that has worked with Forest Service fire scientists and used technologies, such as light detection and ranging surveys, to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions. A vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program shall involve only limited and selective vegetation management activities that— shall create the least disturbance reasonably necessary to protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfires based on applicable models, including Forest Service fuel models; may include thinning, fuel reduction, creation and treatment of shaded fuel breaks, and other appropriate measures; shall only be conducted on National Forest System land— adjacent to the right-of-way of a participant; or within 75 feet of the right-of-way of a participant; and shall not be conducted on— a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; a designated wilderness study area; or an inventoried roadless area.
Each vegetation management project described in paragraph
(1)(including each vegetation management activity described in subparagraphs
(A)through
(D)of that paragraph) shall be subject to approval by the Forest Service in accordance with this section. Except as provided in paragraph (2), a participant in the pilot program shall be responsible for all costs, as determined by the Secretary, incurred in participating in the pilot program. The Secretary may contribute funds for a vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program if the Secretary determines that the contribution is in the public interest. Participation in the pilot program shall not affect any legal obligations or liability standards that— arise under the right-of-way for activities in the right-of-way; or apply to fires resulting from causes other than activities conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program. If the Secretary approves a supplement to an approved plan under subsection
(c)of section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1772 ) or an agreement entered into under subsection (d)(1) of that section that covers a vegetation management project under the pilot program, the liability provisions of subsection
(g)of that section shall apply to the vegetation management project. Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall use the authority of the Secretary under other laws (including regulations) to carry out the pilot program. In order to implement the pilot program in an efficient and expeditious manner, the Secretary may waive or modify specific provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, including waivers or modifications to allow for the formation of contracts or agreements on a noncompetitive basis. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may— retain any funds provided to the Forest Service by a participant in the pilot program; and use funds retained under paragraph (1), in such amounts as may be appropriated, to carry out the pilot program. Not later than December 31, 2020, and 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report describing the status of the pilot program and vegetation management projects conducted under the pilot program to— the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives. The authority to carry out the pilot program, including any vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program, expires on October 1, 2023.
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Sec. 8632
Utility infrastructure rights-of-way vegetation management pilot program
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