---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6592d"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6592d"
heading: "Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6592d"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Healthy Forest Restoration"
  - "Subchapter VI — Miscellaneous"
---

# §6592d. Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Chiefs—** The term “Chiefs” means the Chief of the Forest Service and the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
  - (2) **Eligible activity—** The term “eligible activity” means an activity—
    - (A) to reduce the risk of wildfire;
    - (B) to protect water quality and supply; or
    - (C) to improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species.
  - (3) **Program—** The term “Program” means the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program established under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1).
  - (4) **Secretary—** The term “[Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)” means the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture.
  - (5) **Wildland-urban interface—** The term “wildland-urban interface” has the meaning given the term in [section 6511 of this title](/usc/16/6511.md).
- (b) **Establishment—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall establish a Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program to improve the health and resilience of forest landscapes across National Forest System land and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), Tribal, and private land.
  - (2) **Administration—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall administer the Program by coordinating eligible activities conducted on National Forest System land and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), Tribal, or private land across a forest landscape to improve the health and resilience of the forest landscape by—
    - (A) assisting producers and landowners in implementing eligible activities on eligible private or Tribal land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service under title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ([16 U.S.C. 3801](/usc/16/3801.md) et seq.), not including the conservation reserve program established under subchapter B of [chapter 1](/usc/16/chch1.md) of subtitle D of that title ([16 U.S.C. 3831](/usc/16/3831.md) et seq.); and
    - (B) conducting eligible activities on National Forest System land or assisting landowners in implementing eligible activities on [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), Tribal, or private land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the Chief of the Forest Service.
- (c) **Selection of eligible activities—** The appropriate Regional Forester and [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) Conservationist shall jointly submit to the Chiefs on an annual basis proposals for eligible activities under the Program.
- (d) **Evaluation criteria—** In evaluating and selecting proposals submitted under [subsection (c)](#c), the Chiefs shall consider—
  - (1) criteria including whether the proposal—
    - (A) reduces wildfire risk in a municipal watershed or the wildland-urban interface;
    - (B) was developed through a collaborative process with participation from diverse stakeholders;
    - (C) increases forest workforce capacity or forest business infrastructure and development;
    - (D) leverages existing authorities and non-Federal funding;
    - (E) provides measurable outcomes; or
    - (F) supports established [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) and regional priorities; and
  - (2) such other criteria relating to the merits of the proposals as the Chiefs determine to be appropriate.
- (e) **Outreach—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall provide—
  - (1) public notice on the websites of the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service describing—
    - (A) the solicitation of proposals under [subsection (c)](#c); and
    - (B) the criteria for selecting proposals in accordance with [subsection (d)](#d); and
  - (2) information relating to the Program and activities funded under the Program to [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), [Indian Tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g), [units](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=4) of local government, and private landowners.
- (f) **Exclusions—** An eligible activity may not be carried out under the Program—
  - (1) in a [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) or designated [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) study [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A);
  - (2) in an inventoried roadless [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A);
  - (3) on any [Federal land](/usc/16/6502.md?p=1) on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited; or
  - (4) in an [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in which the eligible activity would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource [management plan](/usc/16/544.md?p=k).
- (g) **Accountability—**
  - (1) **Initial report—** Not later than 1 year after November 15, 2021, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall submit to Congress a report providing recommendations to Congress relating to the Program, including a review of—
    - (A) funding mechanisms for the Program;
    - (B) staff capacity to carry out the Program;
    - (C) privacy laws applicable to the Program;
    - (D) data collection under the Program;
    - (E) monitoring and outcomes under the Program; and
    - (F) such other matters as the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) considers to be appropriate.
  - (2) **Additional reports—** For each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the Chiefs shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report describing [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for which funding is provided under the Program, including the status and outcomes of those [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
- (h) **Funding—**
  - (1) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) to carry out the Program $90,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
  - (2) **Additional funds—** In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to the funds described in [paragraph (1)](#h-1), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) may obligate available funds from accounts used to carry out the existing Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership prior to November 15, 2021, to carry out the Program.
  - (3) **Duration of availability—** Funds made available under [paragraph (1)](#h-1) shall remain available until expended.
  - (4) **Distribution of funds—** Of the funds made available under [paragraph (1)](#h-1)—
    - (A) not less than 40 percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service;
    - (B) not less than 40 percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the Forest Service; and
    - (C) the remaining funds shall be allocated by the Chiefs to the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Forest Service—
      - (i) to carry out eligible activities; or
      - (ii) for other purposes, such as technical assistance, [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) development, or local capacity building.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title VIII, § 40808, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1114.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Food Security Act of 1985, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), is Pub. L. 99–198, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1354. Title XII of the Act is classified principally to chapter 58 (§ 3801 et seq.) of this title. Subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Act is classified generally to subpart B (§ 3831 et seq.) of part I of subchapter IV of chapter 58 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1985 Amendment note set out under section 1281 of Title 7, Agriculture, and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and not as part of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Wage Rate Requirements

For provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for construction, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

### Definitions

For definition of “Indian Tribe” as used in this section, see section 5304 of Title 25, Indians, as made applicable by section 18701(2) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.