Sec. 301. Wildfire assessment and mitigation planning
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/bill/117/hr/7665/ih/section-301·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The purpose of the wildfire assessment and wildfire mitigation and adaptation plan required under subsection
(a)is to identify, evaluate, and prioritize management activities to be implemented in the land described in subsection (b)(1) to mitigate and adapt to wildfire risk for communities, ecosystems, and responders. Not later than 280 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure a wildfire assessment is conducted that covers— the Mount Hood National Forest; Federal land within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; and any private, State, or Tribal land adjacent to such areas, including the Warm Springs Reservation. The wildfire assessment required under paragraph
(1)shall include an analysis of— possible sources of ignition, both natural and human-caused; wildfire likelihood and intensity, including estimated impacts to communities, ecosystems, Tribal treaty resources, and infrastructure and structures; and underlying or overarching factors such as climate change and fire suppression that have, are, or will contribute to wildfire risk. Not later than 2 years after the date on which the wildfire assessment is conducted under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall develop a wildfire mitigation and adaptation plan, consistent with— such wildfire assessment; existing wildfire planning, preparedness, and implementation frameworks including Potential Operational Delineations; and the best available science. The wildfire mitigation and adaptation plan developed under paragraph
(1)shall include— noncommercial, science-based, ecological forest health and restoration treatments, including those informed by traditional cultural ecological knowledge, designed to promote the greatest amount of wildfire resiliency for the least amount of cost; methods to reduce the threat posed by wildfires to communities within or near the land described in subsection (b)(1), including permit holders for structures on Federal lands, leased recreation residences, and owners of structures on inholdings on non-Federal lands; methods to establish, restore, protect, and maintain fire-resilient forest structures containing late successional forest structure characterized by large trees and multistoried canopies, as ecologically appropriate; evacuation routes for communities located within or near the land described in subsection (b)(1), which shall be developed in consultation with State and local fire agencies; strategies for clear, accurate, and timely public dissemination of emergency evacuation plans and routes, including for permit holders, on the Federal lands covered by the wildfire assessment within or near the land described in subsection (b)(1); opportunities for increased prescribed fire that reduces wildfire risk while also improving natural ecological function; opportunities for use of managed wildland fire in appropriate forest types to restore more naturally resilient forest conditions and maintain or restore natural meadows; identification, through spatial mapping or other means, of areas and conditions under which wildfires could be managed to reduce wildfire risk and improve natural ecological function; opportunities to reduce the number of human-caused ignitions; opportunities to address underlying and overarching factors such as climate change and fire suppression that have, are, or will contribute to wildfire risk; and other items as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. To the extent practicable, the wildfire mitigation and adaptation plan developed under subsection (b)(1) shall give consideration to community wildfire protection plans developed by communities adjacent to the area described in such subsection. The Secretary of Agriculture shall implement the wildfire mitigation and adaptation plan developed under subsection (b)(1) as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Agriculture— may construct temporary roads within or near the land described in subsection (b)(1) to address wildfires, in accordance with applicable law; and shall remediate such temporary roads as soon as practicable to meet the needs of ecosystem function in the area, based on the best available science. If there is a conflict between the laws applicable to this section, the more restrictive provision shall control. Nothing in this section affects the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture (in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate) to conduct wildland fire operations within the land described in subsection (b)(1).