---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6591a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6591a"
heading: "Designation of treatment areas"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6591a"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Healthy Forest Restoration"
  - "Subchapter VI — Miscellaneous"
---

# §6591a. Designation of treatment areas

- (a) **Definition of declining forest health—** In this section, the term “declining forest health” means a forest that is experiencing—
  - (1) substantially increased tree mortality due to insect or disease infestation; or
  - (2) dieback due to infestation or defoliation by insects or disease.
- (b) **Designation of treatment areas—**
  - (1) **Initial areas—** Not later than 60 days after February 7, 2014, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall, if requested by the Governor of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), designate as part of an insect and disease treatment program 1 or more landscape-scale [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), such as subwatersheds (sixth-level hydrologic [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4), according to the System of Hydrologic [Unit](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) Codes of the United States Geological Survey), in at least 1 national forest in each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) that is experiencing an insect or disease epidemic.
  - (2) **Additional areas—** After the end of the 60-day period described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may designate additional landscape-scale [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) under this section as needed to address insect or disease threats.
- (c) **Requirements—** To be designated a landscape-scale [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) under [subsection (b)](#b), the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall be—
  - (1) experiencing declining forest health, based on annual forest health surveys conducted by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1);
  - (2) at risk of experiencing substantially increased tree mortality over the next 15 years due to insect or disease infestation, based on the most recent National Insect and Disease Risk [Map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) published by the Forest Service; or
  - (3) in an [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in which the risk of hazard trees poses an imminent risk to public infrastructure, health, or safety.
- (d) **Treatment of areas—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may carry out priority [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) on [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) in the [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) designated under [subsection (b)](#b)—
    - (A) to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation; or
    - (B) to reduce hazardous fuels.
  - (2) **Authority—** Any [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) for which a public notice to initiate scoping is issued on or before September 30, 2023, may be carried out in accordance with subsections (b), (c), and (d) of [section 6512 of this title](/usc/16/6512.md), and sections [6514](/usc/16/6514.md), [6515](/usc/16/6515.md), and [6516](/usc/16/6516.md) of this title.
  - (3) **Effect—** [Projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) carried out under this subsection shall be considered authorized hazardous fuel reduction [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for purposes of the authorities described in [paragraph (2)](#d-2).
  - (4) **Report—**
    - (A) **In general—** In accordance with the schedule described in [subparagraph (B)](#d-4-B), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall issue 2 reports on actions taken to carry out this subsection, including—
      - (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.
    - (B) **Schedule—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall—
      - (i) not earlier than September 30, 2018, issue the initial report under [subparagraph (A)](#d-4-A); and
      - (ii) not earlier than September 30, 2024, issue the second report under that subparagraph.
- (e) **Tree retention—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall carry out [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) under [subsection (d)](#d) in a manner that maximizes the retention of old-growth and large trees, as appropriate for the forest type, to the extent that the trees promote stands that are resilient to insects and disease.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–148, title VI, § 602, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8204, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 915; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, §§ 8407(b), 8408, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4846, 4847.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

The authorities provided by each provision of, and each amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, as in effect on Sept. 30, 2023, to continue, and authorities to be carried out, until the later of Sept. 30, 2024, or the date specified in the provision of, or amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, see section 102(a) of Pub. L. 118–22, set out in an Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 9001 of Title 7, Agriculture.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8407(b)(1), substituted “subsection (b)—” and subpars. (A) and (B) for “subsection (b) to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation in the areas.”

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8407(b)(2), substituted “2023” for “2018”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8408, struck out subsec. (f). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2024.”