---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6513"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6513"
heading: "Prioritization"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6513"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Healthy Forest Restoration"
  - "Subchapter I — Hazardous Fuel Reduction on Federal Land"
---

# §6513. Prioritization

- (a) **In general—** In accordance with the [Implementation Plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=11), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall develop an annual program of work for [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) that gives priority to [authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) that provide for the protection of [at-risk communities](/usc/16/6511.md?p=1) or watersheds or that implement [community wildfire protection plans](/usc/16/6511.md?p=3).
- (b) **Collaboration—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall consider recommendations under [subsection (a)](#a) that are made by [at-risk communities](/usc/16/6511.md?p=1) that have developed [community wildfire protection plans](/usc/16/6511.md?p=3).
  - (2) **Exemption—** [Chapter 10](/usc/5/chptI/ch10.md) of title 5 shall not apply to the planning process and recommendations concerning [community wildfire protection plans](/usc/16/6511.md?p=3).
- (c) **Administration—**
  - (1) **In general—** Federal agency involvement in developing a [community wildfire protection plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=3), or a recommendation made in a [community wildfire protection plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=3), shall not be considered a Federal agency action under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.).
  - (2) **Compliance—** In implementing [authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) on [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall, in accordance with [section 6514 of this title](/usc/16/6514.md), comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.).
- (d) **Funding allocation—**
  - (1) **Federal land—**
    - (A) **In general—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#d-1-B), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall use not less than 50 percent of the funds allocated for [authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) in the [wildland-urban interface](/usc/16/6511.md?p=16).
    - (B) **Applicability and allocation—** The funding allocation in [subparagraph (A)](#d-1-A) shall apply at the national level. The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) may allocate the proportion of funds differently than is required under [subparagraph (A)](#d-1-A) within individual management [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) as appropriate, in particular to conduct [authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) on land described in [section 6512(a)(4) of this title](/usc/16/6512.md?p=a-4).
    - (C) **Wildland-urban interface—** In the case of an [authorized hazardous fuel reduction project](/usc/16/6511.md?p=2-A) for which a decision notice is issued during the 1-year period beginning on December 3, 2003, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall use existing definitions of the term “[wildland-urban interface](/usc/16/6511.md?p=16)” rather than the definition of that term provided under [section 6511 of this title](/usc/16/6511.md).
  - (2) **Non-Federal land—**
    - (A) **In general—** In providing financial assistance under any provision of law for hazardous fuel reduction [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) on non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall consider recommendations made by [at-risk communities](/usc/16/6511.md?p=1) that have developed [community wildfire protection plans](/usc/16/6511.md?p=3).
    - (B) **Priority—** In allocating funding under this paragraph, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) should, to the maximum extent practicable, give priority to communities that have adopted a [community wildfire protection plan](/usc/16/6511.md?p=3) or have taken proactive measures to encourage willing property [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) to reduce fire risk on private property.
- (e) **Cross-boundary hazardous fuel reduction projects—**
  - (1) **Definitions—** In this subsection:
    - (A) **Hazardous fuel reduction project—** The term “hazardous fuel reduction [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4)” means a hazardous fuel reduction [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) described in [paragraph (2)](#e-2).
    - (B) **Non-Federal land—** The term “non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1)” includes—
      - (i) [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) land;
      - (ii) county land;
      - (iii) Tribal land;
      - (iv) private land; and
      - (v) other non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Grants—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) may make grants to [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters to support hazardous fuel reduction [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that incorporate treatments in landscapes across ownership boundaries on Federal and non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1), particularly in [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) identified as priorities in applicable [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)-wide forest resource assessments or strategies under [section 2101a(a) of this title](/usc/16/2101a.md?p=a), as mutually agreed to by the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) forester and the Regional Forester.
  - (3) **Land treatments—** To conduct and fund treatments for hazardous fuel reduction [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) carried out by [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) foresters using grants under [paragraph (2)](#e-2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) may use the authorities of the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) relating to cooperation and technical and financial assistance, including the good neighbor authority under—
    - (A) [section 2113a of this title](/usc/16/2113a.md); and
    - (B) section 331 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 ([16 U.S.C. 1011](/usc/16/1011.md) note; Public Law 106–291).
  - (4) **Cooperation—** In carrying out a hazardous fuel reduction [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) using a grant under [paragraph (2)](#e-2) on non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1), the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) forester, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14)—
    - (A) shall consult with any applicable [owners](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of the non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1); and
    - (B) shall not implement the hazardous fuel reduction [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) on non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) without the consent of the [owner](/usc/16/429b–3.md?p=4) of the non-[Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1).
  - (5) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–148, title I, § 103, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1896; Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8401, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4840; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(130), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4319.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsec. (c), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)”.

2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334 added subsec. (e).