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Title II — Wildfire detection and suppression support

H.R. 482 · 118th Congress · Jan 24, 2023 · Lineage

II Wildfire detection and suppression support

Sec. 201 Wildfire detection equipment

To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall—
(1)
expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in areas at risk of wildfire;
(2)
expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response; and
(3)
expedite any permitting required by the Secretary concerned for the installation, maintenance, or removal of wildfire detection equipment.

Sec. 202 Grant program for slip-on tank units

(a)
In general— The Secretaries shall establish a program to award to an eligible State or unit of local government each year grants to acquire slip-on tank and pump units (referred to in this section as slip-on units) for a surge capacity of resources for fire suppression.
(b)
Eligibility—
(1)
In general— To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State or unit of local government shall—
(A)
submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries may require; and
(B)
contribute non-Federal funds in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2)
Cost-share requirements— The non-Federal share of the cost of acquiring slip-on units using a grant under this section shall be not less than 25 percent.
(c)
Use of funds—
(1)
In general— Grants awarded under this section shall be used only for the acquisition of not fewer than 30 slip-on units.
(2)
Restrictions— A recipient of a grant under this section—
(A)
shall be responsible for the cost of the maintenance and use of the slip-on units; and
(B)
may not use grant funds for a cost described in subparagraph (A).
(d)
Requirements for operation of slip-On units— A recipient of a grant under this section shall—
(1)
in maintaining and storing the slip-on units—
(A)
store and mount a slip-on unit on a vehicle only during—
(i)
a period of extreme fire danger; or
(ii)
an active wildland fire;
(B)
designate a vehicle and personnel to be used with each slip-on unit;
(C)
make any necessary modification to a designated vehicle to ensure compatibility with the use of the slip-on unit;
(D)
train designated personnel to use the slip-on unit;
(E)
ensure designated personnel possess elementary wildland fire management skills, including post-fire-front structure-protection tactics; and
(F)
maintain each slip-on unit in good, usable condition for a period of not fewer than 20 years;
(2)
during a large, active wildland fire—
(A)
staff each designated vehicle equipped with a slip-on unit with—
(i)
a person designated under paragraph (1)(B); and
(ii)
a trained firefighter, regardless of whether the trained firefighter is paid, volunteer, or off-duty but paid;
(B)
organize each designated vehicle equipped with a slip-on unit into a team with other designated vehicles under the direction of a qualified task force leader; and
(C)
use each designated vehicle equipped with a slip-on unit primarily for the purpose of following behind the wildland fire front—
(i)
to prevent homes from igniting; and
(ii)
to alert fire engines of structures that have ignited; and
(3)
comply with any other requirements determined to be necessary by the Secretaries, including any minimum requirements for a slip-on unit and any additional required equipment.

Sec. 203 Assistance to States for operation of air tankers

The Secretary concerned may provide funding to States to enable States to operate not more than 50 single-engine air tankers if—
(1)
the single-engine air tanker is government-owned and contractor-operated or government-owned and government-operated;
(2)
a State receiving funding for a single-engine air tanker under this section shares the cost with the Secretary of the acquisition and operation of the aircraft; and
(3)
the single-engine air tanker—
(A)
shall be used for initial attack; and
(B)
shall not be used for large fire aviation support.

Sec. 204 Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications

(a)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Covered unmanned aircraft test range— The term covered unmanned aircraft test range means a test range that is approved of or designated by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for the testing of unmanned aircraft systems, as required under section 44803 of title 49, United States Code.
(2)
Unmanned aircraft system— The term unmanned aircraft system means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(b)
Joint fire science program— The Secretary of the Interior shall, acting through the Joint Fire Science Program, work with covered unmanned aircraft test ranges to carry out research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications.
(c)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

Sec. 205 Study on effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression

(a)
Definitions— In this section:
(1)
Drone— The term drone means an unmanned aircraft system owned by a private individual or entity.
(2)
Drone incursion— The term drone incursion means the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire.
(3)
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
(b)
Study required— The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a study on the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.
(c)
Study contents— In conducting the study required under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—
(1)
determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar years—
(A)
the number of occurrences in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression; and
(B)
the effect of each occurrence described in subparagraph (A) on—
(i)
the length of time required to achieve complete suppression;
(ii)
the effectiveness of aerial firefighting responses; and
(iii)
the amounts expended by the Federal Government; and
(2)
evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various actions to prevent drone incursions, including—
(A)
the use of reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy a drone;
(B)
the seizure of a drone, including seizure with a net device; and
(C)
the dissemination of educational materials relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression.
(d)
Report— Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing—
(1)
the findings of the study required under subsection (b); and
(2)
any recommendations of the Secretary relating to those findings.

Sec. 206 Study on wildfire detection equipment and integration of artificial intelligence technologies

(a)
In general— The Secretaries shall conduct a study on—
(1)
the effectiveness and limitations on the deployment and application of each wildfire detection equipment technology with respect to detection, confirmation, geolocation, predictability of wildfire spread, suppression resource management, post-fire forensics, and surface rehabilitation;
(2)
how each technology described in paragraph (1), with proper and timely deployment and use, can provide for the most effective and efficient means of dealing with the threat and the reality of wildland fires;
(3)
the integration of artificial intelligence with real-time imagery and weather data provided by wildfire detection equipment technology; and
(4)
how the integration of artificial intelligence described in paragraph (3) can enhance the value of each wildfire detection equipment technology, individually and collectively.
(b)
Submission and public availability— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the congressional committees and make publicly available the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).