---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6512"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6512"
heading: "Authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6512"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Healthy Forest Restoration"
  - "Subchapter I — Hazardous Fuel Reduction on Federal Land"
---

# §6512. Authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects

- (a) **Authorized projects—** As soon as practicable after December 3, 2003, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall implement [authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A), consistent with the [Implementation Plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=11), on—
  - (1) [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) in [wildland-urban interface](/usc/16/6511.md?p=16) [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A);
  - (2) [condition class 3](/usc/16/6511.md?p=5) [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1), in such proximity to a [municipal water supply system](/usc/16/6511.md?p=12) or a stream feeding such a system within a municipal watershed that a significant risk exists that a fire disturbance event would have adverse effects on the water quality of the municipal water supply or the maintenance of the system, including a risk to water quality posed by erosion following such a fire disturbance event;
  - (3) [condition class 2](/usc/16/6511.md?p=4) [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) located within [fire regime I](/usc/16/6511.md?p=8), [fire regime II](/usc/16/6511.md?p=9), or [fire regime III](/usc/16/6511.md?p=10), in such proximity to a [municipal water supply system](/usc/16/6511.md?p=12) or a stream feeding such a system within a municipal watershed that a significant risk exists that a fire disturbance event would have adverse effects on the water quality of the municipal water supply or the maintenance of the system, including a risk to water quality posed by erosion following such a fire disturbance event;
  - (4) [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) on which windthrow or blowdown, ice storm damage, the existence of an epidemic of disease or insects, or the presence of such an epidemic on immediately adjacent land and the imminent risk it will spread, poses a significant threat to an ecosystem component, or forest or rangeland resource, on the [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) or adjacent non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1); and
  - (5) [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) not covered by paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) through [(4)](#a-4) that contains [threatened and endangered species habitat](/usc/16/6511.md?p=15), if—
    - (A) natural fire regimes on that land are identified as being important for, or wildfire is identified as a threat to, an endangered species, a threatened species, or habitat of an endangered species or threatened species in a species recovery plan prepared under [section 1533 of this title](/usc/16/1533.md), or a notice published in the Federal Register determining a species to be an endangered species or a threatened species or designating critical habitat;
    - (B) the [authorized hazardous fuel reduction project](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) will provide enhanced protection from catastrophic wildfire for the endangered species, threatened species, or habitat of the endangered species or threatened species; and
    - (C) the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) complies with any applicable guidelines specified in any management or recovery plan described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-5-A).
- (b) **Relation to agency plans—** An [authorized hazardous fuel reduction project](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) shall be conducted consistent with the [resource management plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=13) and other relevant administrative policies or decisions applicable to the [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) covered by the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
- (c) **Acreage limitation—** Not more than a total of 20,000,000 acres of [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) may be treated under [authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A).
- (d) **Exclusion of certain Federal land—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) may not conduct an [authorized hazardous fuel reduction project](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) that would occur on—
  - (1) a component of the [National Wilderness Preservation System](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13);
  - (2) [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) on which the removal of vegetation is prohibited or restricted by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation (including the applicable [implementation plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=11)); or
  - (3) a [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) Study [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (e) **Old growth stands—**
  - (1) **Definitions—** In this subsection and [subsection (f)](#f):
    - (A) **Applicable period—** The term “applicable period” means—
      - (i) the 2-year period beginning on December 3, 2003; or
      - (ii) in the case of a [resource management plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=13) that the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) is in the process of revising as of December 3, 2003, the 3-year period beginning on December 3, 2003.
    - (B) **Covered project—** The term “covered [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4)” means an [authorized hazardous fuel reduction project](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) carried out on land described in paragraph [(1)](#a-1), [(2)](#a-2), [(3)](#a-3), or [(5)](#a-5) of subsection (a).
    - (C) **Management direction—** The term “management direction” means definitions, designations, standards, guidelines, goals, or objectives established for an old growth stand under a [resource management plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=13) developed in accordance with applicable law, including [section 1604(g)(3)(B) of this title](/usc/16/1604.md?p=g-3-B).
    - (D) **Old growth stand—** The term “old growth stand” has the meaning given the term under management direction used pursuant to paragraphs [(3)](#e-3) and [(4)](#e-4), based on the structure and composition characteristic of the forest type, and in accordance with applicable law, including [section 1604(g)(3)(B) of this title](/usc/16/1604.md?p=g-3-B).
  - (2) **Project requirements—** In carrying out a covered [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall fully maintain, or contribute toward the restoration of, the structure and composition of old growth stands according to the pre-fire suppression old growth conditions characteristic of the forest type, [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into account the contribution of the stand to landscape fire adaptation and watershed health, and retaining the large trees contributing to old growth structure.
  - (3) **Newer management direction—**
    - (A) **In general—** If the management direction for an old growth stand was established on or after December 15, 1993, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall meet the requirements of [paragraph (2)](#e-2) in carrying out a covered [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) by implementing the management direction.
    - (B) **Amendments or revisions—** Any amendment or revision to management direction for which final administrative approval is granted after December 3, 2003, shall be consistent with [paragraph (2)](#e-2) for the purpose of carrying out covered [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
  - (4) **Older management direction—**
    - (A) **In general—** If the management direction for an old growth stand was established before December 15, 1993, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall meet the requirements of [paragraph (2)](#e-2) in carrying out a covered [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) during the applicable period by implementing the management direction.
    - (B) **Review required—** Subject to [subparagraph (C)](#e-4-C), during the applicable period for management direction referred to in [subparagraph (A)](#e-4-A), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall—
      - (i) review the management direction for affected covered [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into account any relevant scientific information made available since the adoption of the management direction; and
      - (ii) amend the management direction for affected covered [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) to be consistent with [paragraph (2)](#e-2), if necessary to reflect relevant scientific information the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) did not consider in formulating the management direction.
    - (C) **Review not completed—** If the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) does not complete the review of the management direction in accordance with [subparagraph (B)](#e-4-B) before the end of the applicable period, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall not carry out any portion of affected covered [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) in stands that are identified as old growth stands (based on substantial supporting evidence) by any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) during scoping, within the period—
      - (i) beginning at the close of the applicable period for the management direction governing the affected covered [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
      - (ii) ending on the earlier of—
        - (I) the date the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) completes the action required by [subparagraph (B)](#e-4-B) for the management direction applicable to the affected covered [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); or
        - (II) the date on which the acreage limitation specified in [subsection (c)](#c) (as that limitation may be adjusted by a subsequent Act of Congress) is reached.
  - (5) **Limitation to covered projects—** Nothing in this subsection requires the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) to revise or otherwise amend a [resource management plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=13) to make the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) requirements of [paragraph (2)](#e-2) apply to an activity other than a covered [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
- (f) **Large tree retention—**
  - (1) **In general—** Except in old growth stands where the management direction is consistent with [subsection (e)(2)](#e-2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall carry out a covered [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) in a manner that—
    - (A) focuses largely on small diameter trees, thinning, strategic fuel breaks, and prescribed fire to modify fire behavior, as measured by the projected reduction of uncharacteristically severe wildfire effects for the forest type (such as adverse soil impacts, tree mortality or other impacts); and
    - (B) maximizes the retention of large trees, as appropriate for the forest type, to the extent that the trees promote fire-resilient stands.
  - (2) **Wildfire risk—** Nothing in this subsection prevents achievement of the purposes described in [section 6501(1) of this title](/usc/16/6501.md?p=1).
- (g) **Monitoring and assessing forest and rangeland health—**
  - (1) **In general—** For each Forest Service administrative region and each Bureau of Land Management [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) Office, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall—
    - (A) monitor the results of a representative sample of the [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) authorized under this subchapter for each management [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4); and
    - (B) not later than 5 years after December 3, 2003, and each 5 years thereafter, issue a report that includes—
      - (i) an evaluation of the progress towards [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) goals; and
      - (ii) recommendations for modifications to the [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) and management treatments.
  - (2) **Consistency of projects with recommendations—** An [authorized hazardous fuel reduction project](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) approved following the issuance of a monitoring report shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be consistent with any applicable recommendations in the report.
  - (3) **Similar vegetation types—** The results of a monitoring report shall be made available for use (if appropriate) in an authorized hazardous fuels reduction [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) conducted in a similar vegetation type on land under the jurisdiction of the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14).
  - (4) **Monitoring and assessments—** Monitoring and assessment shall include a description of the changes in condition class, using the Fire Regime Condition Class Guidebook or successor guidance, specifically comparing end results to—
    - (A) pretreatment conditions;
    - (B) historical fire regimes; and
    - (C) any applicable watershed or landscape goals or objectives in the [resource management plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=13) or other relevant direction.
  - (5) **Multiparty monitoring—**
    - (A) **In general—** In an [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) where significant interest is expressed in multiparty monitoring, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall establish a multiparty monitoring, evaluation, and accountability process in order to assess the positive or negative ecological and social effects of [authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) and [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) conducted pursuant to [section 6554 of this title](/usc/16/6554.md).
    - (B) **Diverse stakeholders—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall include diverse stakeholders (including interested citizens and [Indian tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g)) in the process required under [subparagraph (A)](#g-5-A).
    - (C) **Funding—** Funds to carry out this paragraph may be derived from operations funds for [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-5-A).
  - (6) **Collection of monitoring data—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) may collect monitoring data by entering into cooperative agreements or contracts with, or providing grants to, small or micro-businesses, cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, Youth Conservation Corps work crews, or related [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), local, and other non-Federal conservation corps.
  - (7) **Tracking—** For each administrative [unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall track acres burned, by the degree of severity, by large wildfires (as defined by the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14)).
  - (8) **Monitoring and maintenance of treated areas—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, develop a process for monitoring the need for maintenance of treated [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), over time, in order to [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) the forest health benefits achieved.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–148, title I, § 102, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1892.)