---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6704"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6704"
heading: "Establishment of Institutes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6704"
units:
  - "Chapter 86 — Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention"
---

# §6704. Establishment of Institutes

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8) of the Interior, shall—
  - (1) not later than 180 days after October 5, 2004, establish [Institutes](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) to promote the use of [adaptive ecosystem management](/usc/16/6703.md?p=1-A) to reduce the risk of wildfires, and restore the health of forest and woodland ecosystems, in the [interior West](/usc/16/6703.md?p=5); and
  - (2) provide assistance to the [Institutes](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) to promote the use of collaborative processes and [adaptive ecosystem management](/usc/16/6703.md?p=1-A) in accordance with [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) **Location—**
  - (1) **Existing Institutes—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8) may designate an [institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) in existence on October 5, 2004, to serve as an [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) established under this chapter.
  - (2) **States—** Of the [Institutes](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) established under this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8) shall establish 1 [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) in each of—
    - (A) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Arizona, to be located at Northern Arizona University;
    - (B) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of New Mexico, to be located at New Mexico Highlands University, while engaging the full resources of the consortium of universities represented in the [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) of Natural Resource Analysis and Management (INRAM); and
    - (C) the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Colorado.
- (c) **Duties—** Each [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) shall—
  - (1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and monitor [restoration](/usc/16/6703.md?p=7)-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce the risk of severe wildfires and improve the health of [dry forest and woodland ecosystems](/usc/16/6703.md?p=3) in the [interior West](/usc/16/6703.md?p=5);
  - (2) synthesize and adapt scientific findings from conventional research to implement [restoration](/usc/16/6703.md?p=7)-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments on a landscape scale using an [adaptive ecosystem management](/usc/16/6703.md?p=1-A) framework;
  - (3) translate for and transfer to [affected entities](/usc/16/6703.md?p=2) any scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about [restoration](/usc/16/6703.md?p=7)-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments;
  - (4) assist [affected entities](/usc/16/6703.md?p=2) with the design of adaptive management approaches (including monitoring) for the implementation of [restoration](/usc/16/6703.md?p=7)-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments; and
  - (5) provide peer-reviewed annual reports.
- (d) **Qualifications—** Each [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) shall—
  - (1) develop and demonstrate capabilities in the natural, physical, social, and policy sciences; and
  - (2) explicitly integrate those disciplines in the performance of the duties listed in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (e) **Cooperation—** Each [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) may cooperate with—
  - (1) researchers and cooperative extension programs at colleges, community colleges, and universities in the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado that have a demonstrated capability to conduct research described in [subsection (c)](#c); and
  - (2) other organizations and entities in the [interior West](/usc/16/6703.md?p=5) (such as the Western Governors’ Association).
- (f) **Annual work plans—** As a condition of the receipt of funds made available under this chapter, for each fiscal year, each [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) shall develop in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8), for review by the [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8) of the Interior, an annual work plan that includes assurances, satisfactory to the [Secretaries](/usc/16/6703.md?p=9), that the proposed work of the [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) will serve the informational needs of [affected entities](/usc/16/6703.md?p=2).
- (g) **Establishment of additional Institutes—** If after 2 years after October 5, 2004, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8) finds that the [Institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) model established at the locations named in [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2) would be constructive for other [interior West](/usc/16/6703.md?p=5) [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6703.md?p=8) may establish 1 [institute](/usc/16/6703.md?p=4) in each of those [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–317, § 5, Oct. 5, 2004, 118 Stat. 1207.)