Emergency Wildfire and Forest Management Act of 2016
A BILL
To improve forest management activities on National Forest System land and public land, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Catastrophic event— The term catastrophic event means any natural disaster (such as a hurricane, tornado, windstorm, snow or ice storm, rain storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, drought, or insect or disease outbreak) or any fire, flood, or explosion, regardless of cause.
Collaborative process— The term collaborative process means a process relating to the management of National Forest System land or public land under which a project or activity is developed and implemented—
by the Secretary concerned through collaboration with interested persons, as described in section 603(b)(1)(C) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(b)(1)(C)); or
under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program established under section 4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303).
Community wildfire protection plan— The term community wildfire protection plan has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).
Forest management activity— The term forest management activity means a project or activity carried out by the Secretary concerned on National Forest System land or public land in accordance with an applicable forest plan.
Forest plan— The term forest plan means, as applicable—
a resource management plan prepared by the Bureau of Land Management for public land pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712); or
a land and resource management plan prepared by the Forest Service for a unit of the National Forest System pursuant to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).
National forest system— The term National Forest System has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
Public land— The term public land has the meaning given the term public lands in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
Reforestation activity—
In general— The term reforestation activity means a project or activity carried out by the Secretary concerned, the primary purpose of which is the reforestation of impacted land following a large-scale catastrophic event.
Inclusions— The term reforestation activity includes—
planting, evaluating, and enhancing natural regeneration;
clearing competing vegetation; and
any other activity relating to reestablishment of a forest species on fire-impacted land.
Resource advisory committee— The term resource advisory committee has the meaning given that term in section 201 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7121).
Salvage operation— The term salvage operation means a forest management activity carried out in response to a catastrophic event, the primary purpose of which is—
to prevent wildfire as a result of the catastrophic event; or
if the catastrophic event is a wildfire, to prevent a reburn of the fire-impacted area;
to provide an opportunity for use of any forest material damaged as a result of the catastrophic event; or
to provide a funding source for reforestation or other restoration activities for National Forest System land or public land impacted by the catastrophic event.
Secretaries— The term Secretaries means the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.
Secretary concerned— The term Secretary concerned means—
the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System land; and
the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public land.