---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6553"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6553"
heading: "Accelerated information gathering regarding forest-damaging insects"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6553"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Healthy Forest Restoration"
  - "Subchapter IV — Insect Infestations and Related Diseases"
---

# §6553. Accelerated information gathering regarding forest-damaging insects

- (a) **Information gathering—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14), acting through the Forest Service and United States Geological Survey, as appropriate, shall establish an accelerated program—
  - (1) to plan, conduct, and promote comprehensive and systematic information gathering on [forest-damaging insects](/usc/16/6552.md?p=3) and associated diseases, including an evaluation of—
    - (A) infestation prevention and suppression methods;
    - (B) effects of infestations and associated disease interactions on forest ecosystems;
    - (C) restoration of forest ecosystem efforts;
    - (D) utilization options regarding infested trees; and
    - (E) models to predict the occurrence, distribution, and impact of outbreaks of [forest-damaging insects](/usc/16/6552.md?p=3) and associated diseases;
  - (2) to assist land managers in the development of treatments and strategies to improve forest health and reduce the susceptibility of forest ecosystems to severe infestations of [forest-damaging insects](/usc/16/6552.md?p=3) and associated diseases on [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and private land; and
  - (3) to disseminate the results of the information gathering, treatments, and strategies.
- (b) **Cooperation and assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6511.md?p=14) shall—
  - (1) establish and carry out the program in cooperation with—
    - (A) scientists from colleges and universities (including forestry schools, land grant colleges and universities, and [1890 Institutions](/usc/16/6552.md?p=2-A));
    - (B) Federal, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), and local agencies; and
    - (C) private and industrial landowners; and
  - (2) designate such colleges and universities to assist in carrying out the program.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–148, title IV, § 403, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1909.)