Sec. 8217. Prescribed fire centers
553 words·~3 min read·
/bill/118/s/5335/is/section-8217·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
In this section: The term center means a center established under subsection (b). The term Secretary means the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary shall establish 1 or more centers to train individuals in prescribed fire methods and other methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk. The 1 or more centers shall be developed in collaboration with 1 or more institutions of higher education and located at— 1 or more institutions of higher education; or an existing Federal land management facility.
The 1 or more centers shall advance the following goals: Training individuals, including wildland firefighters, foresters, scientists, and land managers, to safely and effectively plan and conduct prescribed fires and vegetation management activities. Conducting research on the use of prescribed fire methods in tandem with other forest restoration methods to achieve greater forest health and resiliency outcomes, including coordinating with research stations, institutions of higher education, and Indian Tribes to include the latest research on— social science, human dimensions, and traditional ecological knowledge to best inform those aspects of prescribed fire; and fuels, forest health, and resiliency.
Developing and advancing interdisciplinary science relating to wildfire, including social science and human dimensions of wildfire, in consultation with stakeholders who— will benefit from the outcomes of that science or use it to benefit populations at risk from wildfire; and will coordinate with 1 or more other centers in developing and advancing that science. Conducting ongoing and forward-looking needs assessments among stakeholders, including Federal and State agencies and Indian Tribes, to determine common need requirements and emerging challenges to reduce wildfire risk and adapt communities to increased risk from wildfire, including the following hazard-related focus areas:
Increasing disaster resilience. Mitigation and management methods. Air quality. Firestorm weather forecasting and burn-area debris flow forecasting, including empirical and modeling research. Collaborating with Federal wildfire scientists at the Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and other relevant agencies. Identifying, through a detailed engagement process targeting defined end-users, the requirements and delivery mechanisms for products and services that are practical and will have an impact on mitigating wildfire risk.
Promoting technology transfer with pathways for dissemination, implementation, and application of research results on the ground, using and enhancing previous research. Ensuring the connectivity and interoperability of distributed services to maximize synergies and benefits across services. Developing open digital infrastructure to make research data, science, and models open for all sectors to use. Understanding the effectiveness of historical and current wildfire management and suppression strategies, including on wildfires that start in wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, or inventoried roadless areas.
In selecting the locations for the 1 or more centers, the Secretary shall prioritize locations— with no nearby Federal prescribed fire training center; with high wildfire risk; and that would offer prescribed training in forest types not accessible through other Federal prescribed fire training centers. The Secretary shall consult with the Joint Fire Science Program to solicit and evaluate proposals for the locations of the 1 or more centers. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, based on the consultation under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall select locations for the 1 or more centers.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each fiscal year.