§ 2109a — State And Private Forest Landscape-scale Restoration Program

(a) The purpose of this section is to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes. (b) In this section: (1) The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25. (2) The term “nonindustrial private forest land” means land that— (A) is rural, as determined by the Secretary; (B) has existing tree cover or is suitable for growing trees; and (C) is owned by any private individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other private legal entity. (3) The term “State forest land” means land that— (A) is rural, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) is under State or local governmental ownership and considered to be non-Federal forest land. (c) The Secretary, in consultation with State foresters or appropriate State agencies, shall establish a competitive grant program to provide financial and technical assistance to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes. (d) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an applicant shall submit to the Secretary, through the State forester or appropriate State agency, a State and private forest landscape-scale restoration proposal based on a restoration strategy that— (1) is complete or substantially complete; (2) is for a multiyear period; (3) covers nonindustrial private forest land or State forest land; (4) is accessible by wood-processing infrastructure; and (5) is based on the best available science. (e) A State and private forest landscape-scale restoration proposal submitted under this section shall include plans— (1) to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires; (2) to improve fish and wildlife habitats, including the habitats of threatened and endangered species; (3) to maintain or improve water quality and watershed function; (4) to mitigate invasive species, insect infestation, and disease; (5) to improve important forest ecosystems; (6) to measure ecological and economic benefits, including air quality and soil quality and productivity; and (7) to take other relevant actions, as determined by the Secretary. (f) In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to plans that— (1) further a statewide forest assessment and resource strategy; (2) promote cross boundary landscape collaboration; and (3) leverage public and private resources. (g) The Chief of the Forest Service, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and relevant stakeholders shall collaborate and consult on an ongoing basis regarding— (1) administration of the program established under this section; and (2) identification of other applicable resources for landscape-scale restoration. (h) As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, the Secretary shall require the recipient of the grant to provide funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources in an amount that is at least equal to the amount of Federal funds. (i) In making grants under this section, the Secretary may consider coordination with and proximity to other landscape-scale projects on other land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior, or a Governor of a State, including under— (1) the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program established under section 7303 of this title; (2) landscape areas designated for insect and disease treatments under section 6591a of this title; (3) of this title; (4) stewardship end result contracting projects authorized under section 6591c of this title; (5) appropriate State-level programs; and (6) other relevant programs, as determined by the Secretary. (j) The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out this section. (k) Not later than 3 years after December 20, 2018, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on— (1) the status of development, execution, and administration of selected projects; (2) the accounting of program funding expenditures; and (3) specific accomplishments that have resulted from landscape-scale projects. (1) There is established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the “State and Private Forest Landscape-Scale Restoration Fund” (referred to in this subsection as the “Fund”), to be used by the Secretary to make grants under this section. (2) The Fund shall consist of such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under paragraph (3). (3) There is authorized to be appropriated to the Fund $20,000,000 for each fiscal year beginning with the first full fiscal year after December 20, 2018, through fiscal year 2023, to remain available until expended.